Kenneth Weiand

Kenneth Lynn Weiand, age 90, passed away peacefully Sunday, June 7, 2026, in Ash Flat, Arkansas. A man of quiet strength, technical brilliance, and entrepreneurial spirit, Kenneth leaves behind a sprawling legacy of family and service. 

Early Life and Military Service

Born September 30, 1935, in Logansport, Indiana, Kenneth faced significant adversity early in life, losing both of his parents, Curtiss Defoe Weiand Sr. and Violet Opal Weiand, before the end of his teenage years. 

Kenneth entered the United States Air Force in 1951. His early career saw him serving as a technical instructor at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. He was later stationed with the RAF in Sculthorpe, Norfolk, England, serving as a vital Cold War asset under the USAF’s 47th Bomb Wing. As part of the 19th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, he flew the RB-66 Destroyer on secretive, low-level day and night photographic and radar reconnaissance missions across Europe and Soviet borders.

A Career of Innovation

Following his honorable discharge, Kenneth joined North American Aviation. He took great pride in contributing to the golden age of American aerospace, working with the prime contractor responsible for the X-15 rocket plane, the Command and Service Modules for the Apollo missions, and the Saturn V rockets.

His professional journey eventually led the family from the Mundelein and Libertyville, Illinois, area to Watertown, Wisconsin. Kenneth showcased his versatility by founding his own construction company and serving in management for Safeway Steel Corporation.

Retirement and Entrepreneurship

In the late 1970s, Kenneth moved to Cherokee Village, Arkansas, for semi-retirement. True to his industrious nature, he remained active through several enterprises, including a successful mail-order printing business.

Family and Legacy

Kenneth was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet, who passed away December 14, 2000. 

He is survived by his seven children, twenty grandchildren, and thirty-one great-grandchildren who carry on his legacy of hard work and family devotion: Tony (Mary) Weiand and their three children and six grandchildren, Kurt (Lisa) Weiand and their four children and eleven grandchildren, Lynette Judd and her daughter Edy, Kent (Ashley) Weiand and their four children and four grandchildren, Janette Weiand and her three children and three grandchildren, Kenny (Samantha) Weiand and their three children and three grandkids, and Evette Weiand and her two sons. 

Services and Remembrances

In his final years, Kenneth faced the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia with resilience. The family extends a special thanks to the private nurses who cared for him at home as well as the staff at EagleCrest Nursing and Rehab for the dignity and respect they showed him during his final year.

Memorial Service: Friday, June 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ~ Tri-County Funeral Home Chapel, 1540 Hwy. 62/412, Highland, AR 72542

Kenneth will be inurned alongside his wife at St. Michael’s Columbarium in Cherokee Village.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kenneth’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association at Alzheimer's Association .