Wyoming Tribune-Eagle Cheyenne, WY 12 Apr 2007 J. Arling Wiederspahn 1916-2007 J. Arling Wiederspahn, 91, of Cheyenne died April 10 at Cheyenne Healthcare Center. He was born Jan. 22, 1916, in Grand Island, Neb., to George and Elizabeth Wiederspahn. They moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., where he grew up and graduated from Palmer High School in 1934. Mr. Wiederspahn moved to Greeley, Colo., in 1934 where he was employed by the Macy Funeral Home and Camfield Hotel. He moved to Cheyenne in 1936, worked for United Airlines as a sheet metal mechanic until leaving for Chicago in 1938 to attend Worsham College of Mortuary Science. After graduating he returned to Cheyenne, working for United Airlines and Worland Mortuary. In 1946, Arling and Robert E. Grace formed a partnership and purchased the Worland Mortuary operating as the Wiederspahn and Grace Mortuary. In 1956, Mr. Wiederspahn built and then opened the Wiederspahn Chapel of the Chimes, which he owned and operated with his wife, Edvina, until their retirement in 1987. Cheyenne Memorial Gardens was purchased in 1967 and in 1979 a crematory was added, which was the first in the state of Wyoming and holds license No. 1. He had been a licensed mortician for 69 years and appointed by Gov. Herschler to serve two terms on the State Board of Embalming; elected Laramie County coroner, serving 12 years, and served as deputy county coroner for several years. He was a member and past president of the National Association of Approved Morticians, elected to the Board of Trustees at Laramie County Community College, serving for 15 years. He was appointed by five different mayors to serve a total of 20 years on the Firemen's Civil Service Commission. He served on The Salvation Army Board for 22 years, was a member and past president of the Laramie County Chapter of the American Red Cross as well as the Board of Goodwill Industries. He was a Boy Scout leader and member and past president of the Deming PTA, where he and his wife were honored with the Parent Teacher Association All Star Parents Award at the 50th anniversary of Deming Grade School. He was also a member of Cheyenne Jaycees (Jr. Chamber of Commerce), receiving the Outstanding Young Man award in 1949, member and past president of Cheyenne Lions Club, active in a number of fraternal organizations, Past Worthy Patron of Mizpah Chapter No. 36 of the Order of Eastern Star, past patron of the Indian Paintbrush Court Order of Amaranth, member of Acacia Lodge No. 11 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, member of Korein Shrine and Wyoming Consistory No. 1, Past Associate Guardian of Job's Daughters Bethel No. 33 and he often chaperoned many Bethel activities. He was a long-time member of Gideon International and held a lifetime membership in the Elks Lodge No. 660. He was a member of Zion Congregational Church where he served as Sunday school superintendent, a member and past president of the Church Board and as a deacon. After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Wiederspahn spent several months a year in Peoria, Ariz., and attended Desert Palms Presbyterian Church, where also served as a Stephen minister. Arling Wiederspahn is survived by his two children and their spouses, Janet and Dwight Haught and Al Wiederspahn and Cynthia Lummis, all of Cheyenne; grandchildren, LaRon Hogg-Haught of San Francisco, LaRae Reid and her husband, James of Hollister, Calif., Trenton Hogg and his wife, Melissa of Cheyenne and Annaliese Wiederspahn of Cheyenne; great-grandchildren, Shane, Nathan and Quinn Dirksen of Hollister and Louden Hogg of Cheyenne; a sister-in-law, Irene Lamb; several nieces and nephews; and his extended family includes David Haught and his wife Cindy of Sheridan, Don Haught and his wife Robin and Doug Haught and his wife Julie, all of Torrington; eight great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edvina, whom he married March 17, 1938; his parents, George and Elizabeth Wiederspahn; two sisters, Barbara Weber and Rose Lamb; and two brothers, Conrad Wiederspahn and Robert Wiederspahn. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes with the Rev. Elmer Wilhelm officiating. Interment will be at Beth El Cemetery. Friends may contribute to the Arling and Edvina Wiederspahn Scholarship at Laramie County Community College, 1400 East College Drive, Cheyenne, WY 82007 or Wyoming Chapter of Alzheimer's Association, 119 3rd Street, Douglas WY 82631.