Erna Wieland - Obituary

rna K. "Mom" Wieland, 91, a 39-year resident of Edgewater and previously of Beltsville, died peacefully on November 28, 2014 at her home surrounded by family. Born in Germany on December 27, 1922 to the late Hermann and Amelia Knop, Erna left Germany with her mother and sister and arrived at Ellis Island in July 1923. The family settled in the Washington area where Erna graduated from Bladensburg High School. Erna retired in 1982 as a personnel assistant for the U.S. Department of Agriculture after a successful 33-year career. She was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Sunderland and the London Town Peppers Senior Group. Erna was an avid reader and loved traveling, playing bingo and regularly finishing the daily Washington Post crossword puzzle. She visited all of the casinos on the east coast where she enjoyed playing slot machines. She also was a four-time participant of the annual Bay Bridge Walk, completing three of the walks after surgeries on her hip and both knees. Erna was preceded in death by her loving husband of 54 years, Erich E. Wieland who died in 1997; and sons-in-law, Preston Jones and Husky Thames. She is survived by three daughters, Carol (John) Joyce of Edgewater, Debbie Thames of Lothian, and Becky Jones of Fairview, TN; six grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Friends are invited to Erna's Life Celebration from 12 to 2 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, December 1 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater where Erna's funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 2. Interment will be at Fort Lincoln Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans or any veteran organization of your choice. An online guestbook is available by accessing the link at the top of this page.