In Memoriam: Chris Weir, retired officer of IBEW Local 309

Christopher Joseph Weir, 57, of Maryville, Ill., a recent retiree as assistant business manager of IBEW Local 309 and a member of the apprentice board, died Oct. 20, 2021.

“We lost a true man of Labor, who would do anything for anyone,” said Local 309 Business Manager Tim Evans.

Brother Weir was born Feb. 7, 1964, in East St. Louis, to Brian and Cecilia “Cece” Weir. Brian Weir was also a union electrician. Chris Weir graduated from Rosary High School in St. Louis in 1982, joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Yorktown CG-48. After his honorable discharge, he joined Local 309 as an apprentice wireman, following in the footsteps of four generations of electricians.

In 1993, he married high school friend Kathy Henderson, who survives. They have three children, Lauren Chavaux Cecilia, Ian Gallagher and Kellan Peskar. He retired this past March.

Brother Weir was an ardent advocate for workers’ rights, never missed the annual Labor Day Parade in Belleville, attended any Labor event that didn’t conflict with a family obligation, and encouraged young people to consider careers in the trades because unions “teach you how to do the work right” and that membership brings dignified wages and benefits. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Maryville, where he volunteered at Lenten fish fries.

His obituary states, “Chris was a family man to the core, and he considered everyone family. He was always the first to lend a hand and put the needs of others before himself. He was the master of diffusing a tense situation with humor and always had a joke up his sleeve to make you smile. His sense of humor, kind heart and natural teaching ability left a lasting impression upon anyone who crossed his path. His final compassionate act was electing to save the lives of his fellow man through organ donation.”

Brother Weir is already dearly missed by his loved ones, who now celebrate the fact that “One-More-Beer Weir” is partying in Heaven with half the Beatles; his grandparents, Joe Weir Sr., Ann P. (Gallagher) Weir, and Fred & Rose Peskar; father-in-law Ken Henderson; brother Brenden Weir; brother-in-law Jimmy Henderson; and niece Keiley Weir.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Henderson-Weir  and children Lauren, Ian and Kellen of Maryville; parents Brian and Cece Weir of Glen Carbon; brothers Brian Weir of Belleville, Nick Weir of Roswell, Ga., Killian Weir of Fairmont City, and Ted Weir, of Carlsbad, Calif.; sisters Shannon Gittemeier of Glen Carbon, and Maureen Weir of Edwardsville; plus many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. His brother Brenden preceded him in death.

A funeral mass was held Oct. 27 at Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, with Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville handling arrangements. Burial was at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in south St. Louis County.

Local 309 has established a Weir Memorial Scholarship Fund to support union brothers and sisters in need and to promote the trades. Memorials can be mailed to the Barry Wilson Funeral Home at 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.