12/14/1930 – 03/30/2026
Eileen passed away at home on March 30, 2026, at age 95. She was preceded in death by her husband Dennis; her parents, Arnold and Verena Willenbring; sisters, Lucinda Meierhofer and Lillian Arnold; and brother, Dennis Willenbring. She is survived by daughters, Carol Anne (John) Wall and Kathryn Weiss; son, David Weiss; grandsons, Corey and Aaron Weiss; granddaughters, Sarah (Ari) Ramirez and Rachel Wall.
Eileen was born on December 14, 1930, and grew up in the little central Minnesota town of Richmond (previously Torah). Her grandfather John Willenbring was talented with all things mechanical, running a watch shop and a mechanical shop, over which Eileen lived as a young child. She was proud of her grandpa’s role keeping the church tower clock accurate and og his ability to tune a piano by ear. Her father Arnold Willenbring inherited the mechanical touch, and had several patents filed during his life. Her father’s sister Clara and brother Leo inherited the musical talent, and Eileen developed a lifelong love of music, both played and sung, from her aunt and uncle.
As did many of Eileen’s contemporaries at the time, she moved to the Twin Cities to find work while also returning home on weekends to socialize. It was through her sister Lillian and that circle of friends that she met her husband Dennis Weiss, who also hailed from central Minnesota (Grove City). They married on May 26, 1956, and a year later moved to a house on Bilbuck Lane (now Upper 73rd Street in Inver Grove Heights) – the same home in which she died nearly 70 years later.
Eileen had attended business school to be an administrative assistant. She started her career at Honeywell (part of the wire desk), left to have children, then returned to work when her youngest was in school. She worked at GNB (formerly in Mendota Heights) as an executive assistant until retiring in 1987. While working, Eileen juggled her work, her children and her home but found time at night to play the piano and sometimes sing along. This soundtrack is a bedtime memory that her children cherish.
Music was Eileen’s joy and ministry. With her free time, particularly after retirement, she sang and played handbells for many years in various church and volunteer choirs. A member of the Church of Saint Patrick since first built on 72nd Street, she was a member of the “Resurrection Choir” that sang at other’s funerals, and of the Adult Choir, and for nearly 15 years the Handbell Choir. Eileen was also a member of the Divine Redeemer Auxiliary Girl Singers (DRAGS), later the Music Makers when Divine Redeemer Hospital ceased operations. The group traveled to various nursing homes, entertaining residents.
From a young age, Eileen loved pets, especially but not exclusively cats. In her last 9 years, after the passing of her husband Dennis, Eileen’s rescue cat Eddie was her constant companion and comfort.
Mass of Christian Burial 11AM Saturday, April 11th at the Church of St. Patrick 3535 72nd St., Inver Gove Heights. Visitation one hour prior to Mass. Interment St. Patrick’s Church Cemetery.