Frank Weidmann

July 22, 1950  -  April 8, 2025

Frank Weidmann Obituary

​Frank J. “Frankie” Weidmann, 74, of Trevose, died at home on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, after a long term fight with COPD.

​On July 22, 1950, Frank was born in Abington Memorial Hospital. He resided with his parents in Trevose until 1953, when the family home in the Belmont Hills section of Bensalem was built. Frank loved the outdoors; he was always outside with his childhood friends from “The Hill”.

​Frank was taken by his father to work with him when he was young. During Frank’s childhood, his father worked at the quarries in Bucks County, one being the Joseph Ryan quarry in Langhorne. Frank learned much from the old Italian masons who worked in the quarry, acquiring the physical strength needed to do his work later in life.

​Frank graduated from Bensalem High School in 1968. During high school, Frank played on the basketball and soccer teams. In January 1970, Frank was drafted into the Army. He completed his basic training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina at the US Army Training Center, Infantry. He was part of Company B, 10th Battalion, 2nd Brigade. In July 1970, Frank completed the Automotive Repair Course at the US Army Ordnance Center and School at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. From there, Frank was sent to teach mechanics classes at West Point Military Academy, briefly. In late 1971, instead of being sent to Vietnam, Frank was transferred to the European Theater at Hanau Army Airfield in Germany for the remainder of his service. He was first part of Company D of the 122nd Maintenance Battalion, Third Armored Division, of the 88th Heavy Equipment Maintenance (HEM) Company, and would later be transferred to the 8th Maintenance Battalion, 7th Army, 2nd Automotive Platoon, of the 88th HEM Company. Frank was honorably discharged from the Army in January 1973, his final rank being Sergeant.

​Frank was an excellent constructor whose mastery was in stone masonry. His work can be seen throughout the entire southern Pennsylvania area. He was the personal stone mason for former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman, he helped construct Neshaminy High School’s Hall of Fame in 2010 and 2012 (before its recent demolition and reconstruction), and he assisted in the remodeling of the Newportville Inn in the early 1990s. Frank’s work can also be seen outside of the area. Frank constructed, in 2011, the outdoor cooking facility for the soldiers stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland; the cages for the Rochester Zoo’s polar bears in 2004; and he assisted with the cage assembly for the mice utilized in experiments conducted at Tufts University in Boston. Frank also assisted with rebuilding efforts in Beach Haven and Margate, NJ in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

​Frank worked for himself starting in 1977, but Frank previously worked for the McHugh Brothers Heavy Hauling Company when it was located in Penndel in the mid-1970s. Frank worked for John Dessalet in Trevose in 1964; repaired big-rig trucks for several mechanics in the 1970s; and in 1968, assisted his father and uncle, Fritz Weidmann, in laying out golf course plumbing systems in Virginia. Frank and Uncle Fritz also owned a glass business for a brief period of time, with Frank eventually running it himself later on before it went out of business. Eventually, Frank became self-employed in 1977. In his later years, Frank worked with Robert Hauss (Alert General Contractors), and worked a part-time job for a year with Eric Kurz and Son (scrap metal) from 2017 to 2018 in Philadelphia, before his progression to being oxygen-dependent forced him to stop working altogether in August 2018.

​At The Sandpiper, on Labor Day 1984, Frank met Arlene Maicher. They soon married on Valentine’s Day 1985. Later that same year, Frank returned to Trevose when he and Arlene bought their house, where they have resided ever since. They would go on to have two children that they were tremendously proud of.

​Frank had, for years, volunteered at the R. Keith Anderson Memorial VFW Post #9765 in Trevose, organizing fishing trips on the “Captain Cal” for several summers. Frank did a lot for the VFW that he and his family helped to found in 1949 (his father and three of his uncles being Charter Members, and his father being Commander from 1991-1993). Frank loved going there to see his friends, and being the general life of the party there. Due in part to his volunteerism, and his help in maintaining the building when they needed masonry construction, Frank was honored with an Honorary Lifetime Membership in 2003.

​Frank also enjoyed portraying Santa Claus. He would put on his Santa suit and go to his friends’ houses, and go to parties held at the VFW or the former John’s Café in Trevose. Frank loved playing Santa, and many people enjoyed having their pictures taken with him.

​Throughout his entire life, Frank took pleasure in stamp collecting. In recent years, his stamp collecting is what occupied his time since he was unable to work. His stamp collection is immense, spanning all the countries of the globe, with some stamps dating back to the late 19th century.

Frank also enjoyed watching old television shows (without commercials!!!) on Hulu, Amazon Firestick, and other streaming services. Frank was also an avid fisherman, taking his friends on several trips to NJ for deep-sea fishing, and he loved taking his children fishing locally on the Neshaminy Creek. Frank enjoyed being “Uncle Bank” to his sister’s children, taking them fishing as well. Frank was a very intelligent man who was apt at anything dealing with math and history. He also loved cooking, gardening, pickling his vegetables, and playing board games. His new passion in recent years was completing Sudokus. Frank was also an excellent bowler, who bowled with The 69ers at Penndel Lanes in the 1980s. He had numerous friends who loved and respected him.

Frank also enjoyed spoiling Parker, the family dog they were gifted with in December 2021. Frankie loved giving Parker treats, taking him outside, and petting him. Having Parker gave Frankie something amazing these last few years.

A special thank you goes out to Affinity Care for their assistance with his transition from palliative to hospice care. Frank will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

​Frank was predeceased by his parents, Frank C. “Pops” Weidmann in 2007; and Margaret “Memom” (nee Ott) Weidmann in 1999. He was also predeceased by his sisters-in-law, “Cis” Maicher in 2008, and Denise Maicher in 1956; brothers-in-law, “Eddy” Maicher in 1977, John Fields in 2018, and Kenneth Maicher in February 2025; his parents-in-law, Edward Maicher in 2006, and Julie Maicher in 2021; all of his aunts and uncles; and two cousins.

​Frank is survived by his wife of 40 years, Arlene (nee Maicher) Weidmann of Trevose; his daughter and son-in-law, former Air Force Staff Sgt. Joanna L. (Joshua) Chism of Arkansas; son, F. Christian Weidmann of Trevose; sister, Marge Fields; and brother, Michael Weidmann (Mary Pat Nugent), all of Bensalem; nephews, Johnnie Fields, and Kenny (Danielle) Maicher, all of Bensalem; nieces, Lisa (Levi) Collier, of Philadelphia; and Colleen Maicher (Zach Plude) of Bensalem; great-nephews, Andre’ Collier of Philadelphia; and Weston and Declan Maicher of Bensalem; great-nieces Whitney Collier of Philadelphia; and Adrian Plude and Finley Marie Maicher of Bensalem; the family dog, Parker; nine cousins and their families; and countless friends.

​Family and friends are invited to Frank’s Life Celebration on Saturday, April 19,2025 from 10:00am until his funeral service at 11:00am, at the Dunn-Givnish Life Celebration Home, 378 S. Bellevue Ave, Langhorne, PA, 19047. Interment will be held privately by his family.