Claude Wiegand

Claude Frederick Wiegand, the first born son of Claude and Margaret (nee Brown) Wiegand, was born on September 16, 1931, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and died on February 6, 2025, at his home in Golden, Colorado.

Growing up during the war years, Claude was an industrious young man working in Mr. Levine’s clothing store, delivering newspapers, ringing the church bells daily, filling the coal hoppers at the local school, collecting scrap metal for the war effort and serving as an air raid warden. In his spare time, he earned the coveted Eagle Scout award, played as the quarterback of his high school football team, and helped care for his three younger brothers.

A lifelong learner, Claude’s studies after high school took him to Baltimore, Maryland; Kitchener, Ontario; Emmitsburg, Maryland and St. Louis, Missouri. After his ordination to the Catholic priesthood in 1957, he served as a parish priest, director of Catholic Charities, and chaplain for the New Cumberland, Pennsylvania army base. He was a peace activist during the Vietnam War and always an advocate for the poor and underserved. His commitment to social justice issues was core to his being.

In 1972, he married his wife Linda and together they moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, where their two children, Christopher and Chanté, were born. Claude was an instrumental contributor and professor in the newly formed School of Social Work at the University of Regina, working with the native Canadian population. During his tenure, his work in creating a Social Competence Paradigm became a major contribution to the field of social work. After seven years, the young family relocated to upstate New York to be closer to family. Claude became a full-time professor at the State University of Brockport until 1996 when he retired as head of the social work department. After some years in his home state of Pennsylvania, he moved out west to Golden, Colorado to be closer to his children and grandchildren.

His love of nature began during childhood when he camped, hiked, and fished with his family. While living in Canada, he introduced his young family to the great outdoors through camping adventures. Once in upstate New York, the Adirondacks became an annual sojourn with the family to connect to nature. In later years, Claude and Linda took to RV life to continue their adventures, eventually wintering in southern Texas where he became an avid birder, rekindled his love of watercolor painting, and volunteered at a colonia in Mexico, which brought him much satisfaction. Claude was also an experienced and passionate genealogist with an insatiable curiosity about family connections. This hobby brought him to travels in Germany and Italy with Linda to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.

Claude was a contemplative, compassionate, and loving man. He lived a rich and full life to the end and will be greatly missed by all those who loved him and whose lives he touched. Claude is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda (nee Menzi), his son, Christopher (Andrea), daughter Chanté (John), and his beloved grandchildren, Emalene, Reed, and Mirabella, his brothers Robert (Helen), Gerard (Rosemary), David (Jan), cousin (Janet), sisters in law, Marjorie (Bill), Valerie (Philip), Andrea (Richard) and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A celebration of his life will take place at a later date in his beloved hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to Spiritus Christi Church, 121 N. Fitzhugh Street, Rochester, New York 14614.