[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 1, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2048-E2049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN MEMORY AND HONOR OF DAUNE MARIE WEISS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 1, 2000

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, when Andrew called me in Washington and 
asked me to honor Daune today, I was honored.
  In Washington, we still do not have a budget and we are operating on 
a 24-hour continuing budget resolution--one day at a time--one day at a 
time.
  For Chris and Sarah, Peter, Andrew, Robert Palmbos, the Langestaff, 
Weiss, and Weber families, and for all of us who knew and loved Daune 
and Dick, we must take it one day at a time--every day will be a 
challenge--some days, you feel like you cannot or do not even want to 
get out of bed, to face another day without Daune--without our loved 
one.
  For my family, we know, we still struggle each day without our B.J.
  But like Daune--we must move forward each day with all the confidence 
and gusto. Daune, the mother, the wife, the teacher, the sister, the 
friend, the community leader and business woman, showed us, taught us 
with her ``can do'' attitude to approach each challenge with 
enthusiasm, because behind that ``Buergermeister'' smile there was a 
strong woman who would not be denied, she was a kind, gentle, loving 
person--a love that engulfed her family and penetrated throughout the 
Gaylord community.
  I still remember when we were staying at the Holiday Inn, and my sons 
forgot their swimming suits. Great disappointment was written all over 
them. Of course, Daune asked them, what was wrong? When our young sons 
told her their dilemma of having to spend a day at the Holiday Inn 
without their swimming suits--it just wasn't going to be fun.
  Daune just smiled and said to our sons ``Come on, follow me'' and she 
marched them back to a storage room with a box full of suits, and sure 
enough there were two suits that fit the boys. They were thrilled as 
they ran off to the pool.
  When we told our son Ken about the sad news, he used one word to 
remember Daune by, ``Lederhosen.''
  In 1993, our first Alpenfest parade, Daune made sure we all had the 
appropriate dress and ``Lederhosen,'' all the way down to the little 
Alpine hats for our boys, ages 11 and 13.

[[Page E2049]]

I told them they did not have to wear the hats, but they had to wear 
the ``Lederhosen''--they did, but only once. I still have my 
``Lederhosen'' and they have taken on a new meaning.
  No matter what time I would arrive at the Holiday Inn, it seemed like 
Daune was always there. Usually it was late at night. I would look 
``wrung out'' and Daune would see me--her motherly instincts would take 
over--she would put her hands on her hips, and through that smile, 
would sternly ask me why was I not getting enough sleep and when was 
the last time I ate, and quite frankly, I could not remember, so she 
would say, ``Come on, follow me'' and we would go back into the kitchen 
and she would build me a sandwich, no matter what time it was.
  The last time I checked into the Holiday Inn it was late. Dick 
Bebbell was at the front desk. He learned from Daune and asked if I was 
hungry, and no offense to Dick Bebbell, but Daune's sandwich had a 
better touch to it.
  By her example, Daune taught us all kindness. That is what made her 
Holiday Inn staff the best!
  For all of us Democrats, from all the campaigns of Irwin, Weiss, 
Stupak, all Democrats, we knew we had an ardent supporter, an unending 
volunteer, and a great friend in Daune Weiss. There may not be a lot of 
Democrats in Otsego County, but we had Daune and she never let us down!
  Daune, you never let us down. As we continue on in life, one day at a 
time, whether we are working in Washington, DC, Newberry, Gaylord, 
Moran, Northern Michigan University, Colorado, MSU, or Lake Superior 
State University, the mother, the sister, the teacher, the 
businesswoman, our ``Buergermeister,'' now with ``angelic'' wings will 
guide us, as we face each day, as we face each challenge. Through 
Daune's warm, contagious smile, we can do it, we will do it--for Daune, 
one day at a time.

                          ____________________