Colonel (Ret) Joseph U. Weaver, Jr., 73, of Sparta died Thursday, March 23, 2006 at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse. Joe was born at Ft. Houston Army Hospital on January 12, 1933 to Army Doctor Joseph U. Weaver and Grace Short Weaver. He grew up in Texas, Pennsylvania, Guam, Tokyo, and Washington, DC. He had a bachelors degree from Un. Of Omaha, and a masters from Webster Un.

     He was in the reserves, enlisted and later became an Army Officer. He served in Brook AMC, 82^nd Abn Div, l Corps, 173d Airborne Bde, 3d Special Forces, in the Congo, the 1^st Cav. Div, at the USA Infantry School, the 101^st Airborne Div, the Academy of Health Sciences, XVlll Abn Corps, Region Vlll, and retired from Fifth US Army as Colonel at Ft. Sam Houston in October of 1988.

     After retirement he dabbled in assorted part time jobs, but came to Wisconsin as the Ft. McCoy Administrator of the Regional Training Site – Medical for five years. He was active at St. John’s Episcopal Church, and in the Society of the 173d Abn Brigade and enjoyed attending military reunions and meeting old friends.

     He is survived by his wife, Lynne of Sparta; his daughter, Wesley, son-in-law, Jeff Clifton; grandsons, Jake and Josh, son-in-law, Lee Morris and sister-in-law, Linda Weaver and numerous others he considered to be family.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter, Laura Morris, and his twin brother, John.

     Memorial services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sparta with Reverend Leigh Waggoner officiating. Burial with full military honors will be Friday afternoon in Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Texas. Memorials may be given to St. John's Episcopal Church, American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.