Ivan Leroy Wieters, 88, died April 13, 2015, at Dillon Living Center, Hutchinson. He was born April 23, 1926, at his parents' home east of Barnes, Kan. Ivan Wieters was the first son of Albert Henry Adolph and Elsie Wilhelmina Boda Wieters.

He was baptized May 30, 1926, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church south of Barnes by Rev. Otto Keller and on March 17, 1940, he was confirmed by the Reverend L.W. Temme at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Barnes. Ivan graduated from Barnes High School in May 1944. He attended Clark's Business College in Topeka, majoring in Business and Accounting and took the Dale Carnegie Sales Courses.

On July 31, 1949, Ivan married Valera Harz at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Greenleaf, Kan. They lived near Greenleaf until Nov. 16, 1977, when they moved to Hutchinson, and became members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Ivan served in the United States Navy on the USS Fayette as a Gunner's Mate in the south Pacific Theater. His ship took the first troops, the Ninth Medical Corps, into Japan following the surrender of Japan and docked at Otaru in the Northern Honshu Province, where the first atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. Ivan was the owner of a Trucking Business at Barnes, a Farmer and Rancher at Greenleaf, Accountant and Office Manager at the Farmers Coop Elevator Association, Greenleaf; Editor of the Coop News and Views, Greenleaf; Sec. & General Manager Farmers' Coop Association, which included Greenleaf, Washington, Linn and Morrowville, Kan.; District Manager, Far-Mar-Co; Director, Information & Member Services, Far-Mar-Co; Manager of Field Services, Far-Mar-Co, Hutchinson; Special Services-Producers Grain Corp., Amarillo, Texas; Vice President & Branch Manager, Salina PAC, Lyons; Vice President, Lending, Farm Credit Services, of Hutchinson. He served as secretary, Vice President, President and district officer of the KS Coop Council; he was a member of the Cooperative Editorial Association; National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives; Lions Deputy District Governor, 17 AW; Lions Zone Chairman; Lions Club President, Greenleaf; an Honorary Member of Future Farmers of America. On the Advisory Board Member of Cloud County Community Junior College of Concordia, Kan.; on the Advisory Board of the State Fair Community College at Sedalia, Mo. Ivan was a long time member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion of Hutchinson and Washington.

Special skills he enjoyed were writing poetry for family and friends, writing and editing the Coop News and Views and writing his Life History. He was a public speaker, toastmaster and emcee for his Barnes Alumni many times. Ivan is known for his humor in his speaking and daily life. He became a member of IPA, International Platform Assoc., in 1980. His interest's encompassed education, reading, writing, traveling, dancing and helping young people. Ivan was devoted to his faith and to his family. Ivan's wit, that beautiful sense of humor, was contagious. One-liners and quips were his specialty. He often brought instant laughter through his well-placed comments of a few words.

Survivors include: wife, Valera Wieters of Hutchinson; sister, Faye Kennedy and husband Larry of Sun City, Ariz.; brother, Dean Wieters and wife Wanda of Glendale, Ariz.; sisters-in-law, Elaine Miller of Holton, Kan., Darlene Harvey of Topeka, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Luella Wiechman.

Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, April 20, 2015, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, with Reverend Chad Trunkhill presiding. Burial will follow at 3:30 p.m. in Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery, Greenleaf, Kan. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday with the family to receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, all at Elliott Mortuary, Hutchinson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Bethlehem Lutheran Church, all in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.