Max A. Wiese

Max A. Wiese, 69, of Goshen died Tuesday morning at Elkhart Hospice House after an 18 month battle with brain cancer.

He was born February 12, 1946 in Goshen to Robert A. and Thailia M. (Melcher) Wiese.

On May 22, 1970 he married Debbie Cripe in Goshen at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.

She survives along with their children, Ryan Wiese and Mindi (David) Swihart both of Goshen and Eric Wiese of Nampa, Idaho; three grandchildren, Brinley, Beau and Rachel; a brother, Dennis (Barb) Wiese of Lancaster, South Carolina and twin brother, Mark (Becky) Wiese of South Padre Island, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two infant sons, Brian Max and Scott Anthony Wiese.

A lifelong area resident, Max was a 1964 graduate of Goshen High School and member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. He attended Business College in Ft. Wayne for a year before serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam from 1966-1968. Max was a 36 year veteran of the Goshen City Fire department, serving the last 13 years as battalion chief. He was a real estate agent for 20 years and also worked at Olympia Candy Kitchen. Following retirement he was employed at Kinro Manufacturing for seven years and also had a booth at the Shipshewana flea market with Brad Park for three years. Always active, he loved watching the Goshen Redskins and playing pickup basketball games. He continued his love of sports coaching in the Junior Football League for 15 years. He enjoyed fishing, boat rides, playing euchre and was famous for his gag gifts, especially within the firefighter family. What he enjoyed most was spending time with family.

Visitation will be from 12 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2015 at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2015 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen. Father Anthony Steinacker will officiate.

Cremation will follow the service and burial will be in Violett Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to United Cancer Services of Elkhart County or Center for Hospice Care.