Stephen James Weining

Stephen James Weining

August 17, 1949 – November 29, 2024

Also known as Jim, Jimmy, Jimbo, Red Fred, Smiley- was son, brother, husband, Dad, Uncle, Grandpa and friend. He had an inherent way of seeing the ironic side in situations. To be in his company usually meant you would be smiling.

Born in Williams, AZ to Steven Weining & Patricia Weining Wayne (both deceased), Jim had 6 siblings: Bill, Sandy, Jack, Robin(deceased), Patrick(deceased), and Cecilia. His stepfather Buck Wayne added 2 more siblings: Craig(deceased) & Karen. Arizona was his lifelong home.

In 1969, during the Vietnam war Jim served in the U.S. Army at Lang Biang Mountains Signal Corps Motor Pool Company. He would tell you it was one of the best directions his life could have taken. While there, he met and married a Montagnard chief’s granddaughter, Jackie/Cathy(after U.S. Citizenship). They were married 23 years until Cathy succumbed to ovarian cancer. They had two children, Cindy and Mike.

His exceptional mechanical reasoning and engineering skills were first publicly recognized when he won 1 st place in the AZ State VICA Competition for Sahuarita High School in 1968. These skills along with his philosophy of “work effort plus workmanship pride” made him a very successful independent heavy equipment truck mechanic and welder/fabricator. He initiated his business by converting a 1970 Ford F250 into a custom work truck with flatbed and Caterpillar diesel engine, incorporating several upgrades that inspired work trucks you see today.

An innovator, he worked wherever he saw opportunity, often with Larry Gobble. His work history included Caterpillar, the Alaskan Pipeline in 1976, excavation, construction & heavy equipment auction companies, landscape corporations, trucking companies and an entertainment park.

This same ingenuity led him to create a “MudBog” truck he cleverly named Titanic’s Revenge after Bob Gardner’s truck, Titanic. This racing avenue provided supplemental income and adventurous family fun traveling experiences throughout the 1980’s. He was usually accompanied by his brothers Jack, Bill and family. Jim, Cathy and Sam Sturges partnered to form Pro Am Promotions, hosting mud bog side by side racing at Saguaro Raceway, having monthly races for about 2 years. All the while Jim was working his fulltime business.

Jim became a caregiver and cancer fighting advocate when Cathy developed Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. He approached it the same way he worked on heavy equipment – find the root cause, not just treat the symptoms- analyze every possible solution to get the best results. Within a year, Jim was widowed. He invested himself in naturopathic medical research, which was not easy without the world wide web!

Jim found comfort and peace in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. He reconnected with a family friend, Anna Lowe and they shared an enduring loving relationship for the rest of his life – together 29 years and married 3.5 years. Jim & Anna could be found on “The Maverick” dance floor many nights. Anna taught Jim to fish and he enjoyed crossbow & rifle hunting. 

Jim had an immense respect for wildlife around him and was awed by landscapes and the scenic skies. Jim was the Dog Man, he loved his dogs his whole life.

Jim’s faith was instilled with Roman Catholic faith from his Mom & Cathy. He had an awareness of God and his journey led him and Anna to Faith Community Church with his daughter and son in law. Over the past few years, he developed his relationship with Jesus and with the men’s bible study groups, even pushing his quiet self to serve as a greeter with Anna.

Jim lived a life of service-serving his country; his family; Cathy in her illness; his Mom; his wife Anna; his children: Cindy(John), Mike(Katie), Summer, Shana, Michelle(Jeff); his many nieces and nephews; grandchildren: Isaac, Seth, Payten, Denin, Hayden, Makenzie & Trey to sort out their problems and celebrate their accomplishments.

Services will be held at Faith Community Church at 2551 W. Orange Grove Road Saturday, December 14 at 10AM with reception to follow.

Donations are encouraged under Stephen Jim Weining to www.friendsofpacc.org OR www.tucsoncoldwetnoses.com for senior dog care, in lieu of flowers.