By Patric Hedlund
FRAZIER PARK (Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, 5:45 a.m.)—Please add your memory of Lloyd Wiens to those below. Just click the “Tell Us” tab at the top of this page, and enter your memory.

Susan Chamess-Dunlap: “I am very sad to hear about Lloyd: He was always a funny guy: He was also kind hearted. He tutored my son Dustin with math, never charged us for his time, a true giver, a true help to our youth: My prayers are with the Wiens family as the walk through this terrible loss in their life. May God be your source of peace and comfort always.”

Dennis Stubblefield: “He will be missed.”

Jean Tackett: “RIP Lloyd. Im saddened to hear the news.Goodbye to a good friend.”

FRAZIER PARK (Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009, 10:11 a.m.) Please add your memory of Lloyd Wiens to those below. Just click the “Tell Us” tab at the top of this page, and enter your memory. Here are a few more.

Dave Carlson: “Was stunned to read of Lloyd’s passing…just spoke to him last week. He was looking forward to filming the Falcon football season and showing it on local TV. I am now going to miss his constant flow of info-emails. He had a great sense of humor and volunteered his services all over this community for many years. After being acquainted with him for many years (we both arrived on the hill in 1979), we became pretty good friends over the last year, as he helped promote local racers, and their cars, via the internet and at the track. He was a wealth of information and a credit to our community, Also….. I will miss him as a friend.”

Mike Murphy, Lake of the Woods: “I am saddened to hear of Lloyd Wiens’ passing. I moved to the mountain and met Lloyd in the late 1970s when we would ski together on top of Mt. Pinos and search out new spots to telemark turn. He was a good friend and a solid character who could be counted on. We scaled Mt. Whitney together in 1986 via the mountaineer’s route. Lloyd would have it no other way. He didn’t want to take the ‘pansy’ route! What a guy – what a friend. Lloyd also joined me in 1982 in pioneering many of the mountain bike routes in use today on Mt. Pinos and in other parts of our backcountry. He was fearless and a great inspiration to me. We have kept in touch sporadically as our paths strayed. But he was always the same intrepid Lloyd of old. I will miss him very much. A vital piece of the heart of our community has been wrenched from us. Good-bye, old buddy.”

Jan de Leeuw, Cuddy Valley: “I was very sad to hear of Lloyd’s death, in the midst of life. He and I disagreed on a million things but we agreed on one important one — the need to protect and preserve the natural resources of the Mountain Communities from the limitless greed of outside developers. It is also sad that a veritable goldmine of information about our area has disappeared so suddenly, especially because Lloyd was always ready to share his information, even in periods when we were not on speaking terms. Losing people like Lloyd makes us a little more like Santa Clarita.”

FRAZIER PARK (Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009, 7:34 a.m.) Please add your memory of Lloyd Wiens to those below. Just click the “Tell Us” tab at the top of this page, and enter your memory. Here are a few more.

Caitlyn Lawton: “Lloyd Wiens was a very prominent resident of the Mountain Communities. He was respected by students, athletes, and those who also shared in speaking up for what they believed is right. I knew Lloyd through my friendships with both Halley and Connor, and I pray now for Zoe, Halley, and Connor for God’s love and comfort to engulf them as they go through this and pray for His strength to be upon them at this time. We serve a loving God, and I know in this He will reveal that. Lloyd was a very funny man and he knew how to step on people’s toes (with the best interests of the community at heart). He will always be remembered for his contributions to FMHS and the Mountain Communities.” [Caitlyn Lawton writes that she is a former Mountain Communities resident and 2002 graduate from Frazier Mountain High School who now lives in Arroyo Grande, CA]

The Lawton Family: “We know Lloyd loved his family and his community. He was a fighter in what he believed in. You could always get a wave and a smile from him when you greeted him in town. He will be missed very much. Our sadness and condolences to Zoe, Connor and Halley.”

Lance Rosmaier: “Please add my thoughts… Lloyd was a fun teammate, a worthy adversary and a great friend…”

Keats Gefter: “I spent many enjoyable hours with Lloyd, sitting around the cracker barrel at his outdoors shop, as well as countless Big John’s breakfasts (‘senior slam’) and lots of FMHS football games doing stats (LW to line judge: ‘You know he was offside, right?’). Lloyd’s fierce dedication to our mountain, his wicked sense of humor and commitment to what he believed to be right will be missed greatly. Rest in peace, my friend.”

FRAZIER PARK (Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009, 12:38 p.m.)—The new time for the Celebration of Life service for Lloyd Wiens is Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2:30 p.m. Friends, family and community will gather at El Camino Pines Lutheran Church (6700 Lakewood Drive) in Lake of the Woods. A scheduling conflict made it necessary to adjust the date to Sunday. Meanwhile, please add your memory of Lloyd to those below. Just click the “Tell Us” tab at the top of this page, and enter your memory.

Memories of Lloyd—

The Larry and Jill Curtis Family: “We are very saddened by the unexpected passing of Lloyd. We have worked with him through Little League for many many years and I worked for him for a few years at his Ski shop. Frazier Park will certainly be a quieter place without him. We loved giving each other a hard time when we did see each other. Perhaps my favorite story is Lloyd getting me to tell Snow Bunnies when they would ask “How long do you think the snow will last?” to call 1-800-GOD. Certainly, by this family, he will be missed! Condolences to his family.”

Janice Rubin: “As a resident of the ‘hill’ for 25 years and a clerk at the Frazier Park Post Office, I have shared many a conversation and laugh with Lloyd. One in particular was when Lloyd came into the Post Office, and one of the other clerks there mispronounced his first name and it came out as “Royd.” I know he could be a pain that way, but he was a great guy and an asset to our community. He will be missed. . . a lot!”

Paul Angel: “Lloyd and I coached football together at Frazier Mountain High School some years back, and what I remember most was his devotion to the team and every individual member. This earned him the respect of all coaches and players. It seemed to me Lloyd lived with certain convictions in all facets of his life,and this is how that strong character exposed itself. If Lloyd was running a passing drill, that receiver better run that route “just right.” HE made the kids believe in themselves and their abilities and in their team. He was also there with a ready smile, or laugh about something on the field, or one of his jokes. I will miss him.”

See more below. Just click the “Tell Us” tab at the top of this page,to enter your memory.

FRAZIER PARK (Monday, Sept. 21, 7:46 p.m.)—Members of the community are writing in with memories of Lloyd Wiens.

Here’s one from Kelly Mielke: “My favorite memory of Lloyd was when our daughters were little and in Girl Scouts together. Lloyd led our troop on an awesome hike on Mt. Pinos one afternoon. I also used to enjoy the groomed cross-country ski trails he mantained up on the mountain. We will miss this outdoors man!”

Michelle Smith: “My late husband David and I knew Lloyd from the early ’80s. Lloyd had Backpacker Exchange in Glendale. Frazier Ski & Pack was our sponsor for our Los Angeles Area High Adventure Explorer Post 129—we were co-advisiors. We discovered Frazier Park by coming up here for a cross-country outing. I will miss his friendship and seeing him at the Post Office.”

Eric Anderson: “Lloyd was ‘the Lion of Frazier Park.’ He was ahead of the curve on many issues related to Frazier Park.”

Frank Williams summarized the feelings of many: “I was very saddened to read about Lloyd’s passing. I have known him for so many years, and during that time we had our agreements and disagreements, but you could never doubt the sincerity in his beliefs. He was a very intelligent person, and I always enjoyed his writings even when I disagreed with them. I will miss him, and I am sure the Mountain Communities will, too.”

Linda MacKay also spoke for many: “I know Lloyd could be a pain…, but he and I were on pretty good terms again the last several months…. I liked the guy in spite of some of the times that weren’t so pleasant between us. I feel sad. I’ll miss Lloyd.”

You are invited to contribute your own fond memories of Lloyd. Just Click the “Tell Us” tab at the top of this page and write your favorite memory. We’ll place them here, and share them with the family for the Celebration of Life event re-scheduled for October 4 at 2:30 p.m. at the El Camino Pines Lutheran Church.[Time and date updated 9/22/09 ]

FRAZIER PARK (Monday, Sept. 21, 1:46 p.m.)—A Celebration of Life service for Lloyd Wiens has been scheduled. The new date and time are Sunday, Oct. 4 at 2:30 p.m. Friends, family and community will gather at El Camino Pines Lutheran Church (6700 Lakewood Drive) in Lake of the Woods. There will be a private graveside service at Eternal Valley in Santa Clarita, according to Judy Rose, speaking on behalf of the Wiens family.

FRAZIER PARK (Monday, Sept. 21, 10:20 a.m.)—Shock and disbelief combined with sadness are the most frequent reactions being registered by those who are just now hearing of Lloyd Wiens’ passing.

Frank Williams summarized the feelings of many: “I was very saddened to read about Lloyd’s passing. I have known him for so many years and during that time we had our agreements and disagreements, but you could never doubt the sincerity in his beliefs. He was a very intelligent person and I always enjoyed his writing even when I disagreed with them. I will miss him and I am sure the Mountain Communities will too.”

Linda MacKay also spoke for many: “I know Lloyd could be a pain…, but he and I were on pretty good terms again the last several months…. I liked the guy in spite of some of the times that weren’t so pleasant between us. I feel sad. I’ll miss Lloyd.”

Lloyd Wiens was locally both famous and infamous for his middle-of-the-night internet tirades sprayed like machine gun fire strafing government offices from Sacramento to Bakersfield. Many in the the Mountain Communities felt the sting of his email listserv attacks. He was always compelling and restlessly inquisitive, if not always factual, and at times unfair. Despite that, in person he was a gentleman. Alice Garcia remembers his piercing blue eyes and his laughter.

Lloyd was also a father who idolized his children, and he was a supporter of youth sports.

Lloyd taught many about these mountains, about its fishing streams, its opportunities, the native peoples in its past, the visions he held for its future. He was a man who bumped against the world around him with spirit, intelligence and passion—one of the unique voices that gave this mountain a character both fearsome and hopeful.

FRAZIER PARK (Monday, Sept. 21, 7:31 a.m.)—At 7:07 this morning, Fred and Judy Rose of Lebec sent out an email to inform Mountain Community friends of the passing of Lloyd Wiens, longtime Frazier Park resident.

Wiens will be remembered as “one who makes a difference” by all who knew him personally, and many who did not.

“Lloyd passed away just after 7 p.m. this [Sunday] evening,” Fred and Judy Rose wrote, “Zoe [Wiens’ wife] and her son Connor were with him, and Lloyd’s brother and sister-in-law were at the hospital also. Halley arrived from New York City a couple hours later.”

Lloyd was taken in an ambulance from the Frazier Mountain High School, just before the football game Friday, at about 3:45 p.m. His beloved Falcons blazed a path to victory that night as he was taken to the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills where a pacemaker was inserted, according to friends.

In a note on Sunday, Judy Rose asked a prayer team to respond when additional medical complications  occurred following the surgery. Zoe was by his side on Sunday. Rose wrote it appeared Wiens was in a coma until he responded to questions from Zoe, spurring hope among the staff attending him in the intensive care unit.

Rose wrote:
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me….” Psalm 23

“We saw this Psalm fulfilled this evening at Holy Cross Hospital as Zoe was surrounded in the ICU by two wonderful Christian nurses who encouraged her as she stayed with Lloyd, and also as she was ministered to by a chaplain on duty who was a born again believer. We saw Zoe take hold of God’s grace during the very difficult events of this day, and as she comforted her children.

“Fred and I just returned home from being with them through the evening after Lloyd’s passing. We praise God for surrounding them with His grace and comfort.”

The entire staff of The Mountain Enterprise extends heartfelt condolences to Lloyd’s family. His passing is a great loss to the community.

FRAZIER PARK (Saturday, Sept. 19, 11:30 p.m.)—Lloyd Wiens, longtime Frazier Park resident, was taken in an ambulance from the high school football field on Friday afternnon, just prior to the Frazier Mountain High Shool football game. He is reported by friends to have had heart surgery with several stents inserted and to be at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. He is reported to be in the intensive care unit with his wife at his side. We wish him a speedy recovery.

To send cards, the hospital is at 15031 Rinaldi St., Mission Hills, CA 91345.

 

This is part of the September 18, 2009 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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