Alfred J. “Al” Weiland, 103, Iola, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at Windsor Place in Iola.
Al was born July 7, 1912, in Neosho Falls, the son of John and Grace (Bigger) Weiland.
Al became a well-respected mechanic and an area dirt track racing legend. He worked on cars since he was 16 years old, starting with a Model T Ford. He moved to Iola and worked at filling stations before working at automotive dealerships. Al opened his own shop at 519 E. Lincoln in 1960.
In 1950, Al got racing in his blood and in 1952 built a race car of his own but left the driving to others. Over the years the drivers of the familiar No. 37 included Frank Ornelas, Johnny Eccles, Willie Crane, Jack Belk, Ron Fowler and Bob Williams. They won races and championships at tracks in the Midwest from Lap Land in Gas City to tracks in Joplin, Kansas City, Topeka, Muskogee, Tulsa and Wichita. Al built his last race car in 1975 but continued to help and watch others race. In the ’80s he worked with Tom Folk and in the ’90s with Rodney Sigg. Al attended races as long as his health permitted.
Al served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of World War II. He married Gladys M. Gilbert on Nov. 11, 1942, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 1, 1987. He was a member of Iola American Legion Post No. 15.
He is survived by a son, Mike Weiland, and wife Irma, LaHarpe; two sisters, Maxine Smith, Iola, and Rita Alderson, Oklahoma City; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Chig, Curtis, Kenneth and Les; and three sisters, Florence Henderson, Eva Rawlings and Imilda Danielson; a half-brother, Chauncey; and a half-sister, Elora O’Hara.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel with burial to follow in the Cedarvale Cemetery in Neosho Falls.
Memorials to the Iola American Legion may be left with the funeral home.
To sign the guest book online or to leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
