Lynn Burkhart Weigel

Lynn Burkhart Weigel was born on the summer solstice in 1917 in Powell on a farm named Broadacres. His great-grandfather was Carl Augustus Weigel who had migrated from Saxony in 1847 in search of good farm land and found it in pre-Civil War East Tennessee. Lynn's father and mother, Walter and Lena (Burkhart) Weigel, raised two sons, William and Lynn, who together transformed Broadacre Dairy first into Weigel's Jug o' Milk, and finally Weigel's Inc. as it is known today. Lynn died December 18th at 94 in his Knoxville home in the care of his wife of 68 years Kathleen (Thrower) Weigel. In the milk industry in the early 60s, traditional home milk delivery ended rather abruptly. At that time Lynn pioneered the concept of convenient drive-through farm stores for milk and other dairy products. Soon thereafter the herd of milking cows at Broadacres was sold and the farm transformed. The Weigel's Inc. convenience store chain was born, and it revolutionized the provision of milk. Since then it has expanded in E. Tennessee to over 50 locations, all now under the helm of Lynn's nephew William B. Weigel. Lynn remained very active at Weigel's into his late 80s always eager in his life's work. His work ethic and creativity, coupled with an attitude of respect toward others, allowed him to find success in life and provide for his family excellent opportunities for higher education and enrichment that he had not enjoyed in his youth. His family remains grateful for his vision, hard work and humanity as well as his kindness and generosity to all. Lynn and Kathleen raised their family on Emory Road in Powell. Rebecca Kathleen, born April 15, 1945, became a public school teacher who worked with disadvantaged children. She died in Los Angeles at 53 in 1997. Lynn Jr., born November 6, 1948, is a physician in internal medicine and pulmonary disease who lives in Lincoln, MA with his wife Irene (Malozemoff). They have a daughter Alexandra (Sasha) Kathleen, born February 6, 1980, who is a nurse mid-wife living in New York City, and a son Jonathan Lynn, born August 30, 1986, who is a PhD candidate in political science and global health. Lynn and Kathleen's family grew up hiking in the Smokies and enjoyed a home in Gatlinburg back when it was a sleepy mountain town. Eventually they began long trips discovering the mountains and canyons of the American West. Lynn celebrated both his 85th and 90th birthdays with all his family in the old mining town of Telluride, Colorado where Lynn Jr. and his family have a home. Lynn's son and grandchildren are all avid mountaineers. His granddaughter Sasha hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2000. Happily, just three weeks ago over the long Thanksgiving weekend, Lynn was able to celebrate with his family around him once again in the Great Smoky Mountains. In Knoxville Lynn was a member of Church Street Methodist Church, where he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Administrative Board. He served as Board Chairman of the Knoxville Utilities Board, as well as many years as a member of the Metropolitan Planning Commission. He and Kathleen were members of Cherokee Country Club and vacationed in Hillsboro Beach Florida. They were fortunate to have been able to travel abroad a great deal, including a trip seeking out the village of Weigel ancestry in what was East Germany at the time. A celebration of his life is planned at Rose-Mann's Heritage Chapel on Thursday, December 22nd at 11AM. The family will receive friends at home afterwards at 1122 Bordeaux Circle from 12- 2PM. There will be an interment for family following. Lynn's family would like to express their gratitude to Lynn's caregivers in this last period of his life, including Pamela Cruse, Jamie Sherwood, Angela Palmer, and Darlene Thomas. Memorials contributions may be made to Church Street United Methodist Church, 900 Henley Street • Knoxville, TN 37902. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences at www.rosemortuary.com

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Lynn Burkhart Weigel

December 18, 2011