In Memory of William “Bill” M. Weir (March 28, 1934 – September 11, 2021)

Rev. William “Bill” M. Weir died on September 11, 2021, at the age of 87.

Bill was born on March 28, 1934, in Winnipeg, Canada to Morley Ferguson Weir and Evelyn Gertrude (Hollis) Weir. His mother and father always encouraged him to communicate his real thoughts and feelings and showed him how to plant and nurture the seed of communication with other persons. After their death, the First Unitarian Church of Houston, TX promptly became Bill’s main place of important communication. He felt that this church belonged to him and showed him that he can enjoy a never-ending quest for both integrity and lasting love. He saw that the Unitarian Universalist churches helped people become conscious of themselves as participants in the natural world, as members of families and other communities, and as persons. This made him believe that Unitarian Universalism could give him a free pulpit where he could apply his talents to common concerns. He hoped to be a Unitarian Universalist minister to help sustain and strengthen Unitarian Universalism’s rules of order devoted to the search of religious truth and to encourage communication in-depth, both in pastoral calling and pastoral counseling.

In 1957, Bill earned his Bachelor of Arts with a major in Physics from Rice Institute (now Rice University), Houston, TX following which he received his Bachelor of Divinity specializing in American Intellectual Social History jointly from the University of Chicago and Meadville Lombard Theological School (1961).

Rev. Weir was ordained on January 28, 1962, by the First Universalist Church of Rockland, ME where he served in the parish from 1961 to 1965. At the Rockland congregation, he developed adult programming and pastoral and administrative skills. His ministry drew new members to the church. Prior to his ordination, he was an intern minister at the First Unitarian Church of Milwaukee, WI (1959-1960).

From 1965 to 1970, Rev. Weir served the Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City, IA, and then the Unity Church- Unitarian, St Paul, MN (1970-1971).

After several years as a Unitarian Universalist minister, Rev. Weir no longer served in churches but continued to be active within Unitarian Universalism. In 1976, he served as guest minister at fellowships in New York and Connecticut.

Rev. Weir’s denominational services included serving as a Washington Social Responsibility Liaison for the Prairie Star District Unitarian Universalist action in a nine-state area. He was a member of the Unity Church-Unitarian, St Paul, MN, and of its Denominational Affairs Committee. He was also a member of the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, MN, and on the board of its philanthropic foundation, Unity Settlement Association, and chairman of the Church’s Summer Services Committee. In addition, he headed the Northeast District Unitarian Universalist Board’s publicity and publications program and did an outstanding job of recruiting and developing leaders. Rev. Weir was one of the ministers who followed the call of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr to Selma, Alabama.

In community, Bill served as a chairman of the Mental Health Services Study Commission of the Johnson County Council for Social Planning (1968) that led to the establishment of a community mental health center in Iowa (1969). He was a co-organizer of a nine-county chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and an organizer of the Iowa Conference on Housing for Low-income People (1967) leading to the establishment of an Iowa City Leased Housing Program in 1969. Bill was committed to improving the nation’s health system, especially mental health care, so he earned a master’s degree in Hospital Administration from the University of MN (1975). His biggest contribution was the booklet “Psychiatric Facilities and the Right of Patients” which continues to be offered by the American Psychiatric Association on its website over forty years after he wrote it.

Furthermore, Bill served as a co-organizer (with Planned Parenthood State Director) of Iowans for Humane Abortion Law and Iowa Clergy Consultation Service on Problem- Pregnancy, Adoption, and Abortion. In addition, he was an organizer of the Cedar Rapids area meetings on action toward better broadcasting. Likewise, he worked as a Senior Research Analyst at the Minnesota Department of Health for many years. He served on the Minnesota Board of Compassion and Choices, regarding terminal illness and the right to die.

Bill’s daughter Joanna shared, “Dad was not only a great role model as a parent but as a person, he was compassionate, wise, he had unending faith in humanity, and we are so grateful to have had his positive influence in our lives for as long as we did.”

Bill is survived by his sweetheart of the past 16 years Pattie Dorf; his co-parent, Judith Hayes Weir; his four children: Trintsha Weir, Oliver Weir, Melina Weir (Charlie Henrikson), and Joanna Coyle Wentz (Jon Wentz); and his five grandchildren: Elizabeth, Taj, and Noah Weir, and Justus and Kaden Coyle. He also leaves behind his sisterly cousin Kathleen “Kay” Shewfelt Boyd.

A Celebration of Life Service took place on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, 900 Mt Curve Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, 900 Mt Curve Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403, or to the DFL Party.

Notes of condolences can be sent to the Weir’s, c/o Melina Weir, 4143 39th Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55406.