VIOLA — A public memorial service for Nicholas Weist, the Knox County sheriff’s deputy who was killed on duty Friday, will be held Saturday afternoon at Galesburg High School, 1135 W. Fremont St.
A public memorial service is planned for Saturday at 2 p.m. in the John Thiel Gymnasium of the GHS. At the beginning of the service there is a first aider inspection; Line-up for the walk-through begins at 1 p.m
Dennison Funeral Home of Viola — where Weist lived with his wife and two young children — is making the arrangements.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker offered his condolences via Twitter Monday afternoon.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of Deputy Nicholas D. Weist of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department,” Pritzker tweeted. “He gave his life working to protect others and his sacrifice will not be forgotten. I send my condolences to his family.”
The sheriff’s deputy was hit by a car and killed near Alpha on Friday
Weist, 34, was struck by a car and killed Friday morning while he was putting up spiked strips at the intersection of US Route 150 and 150th Avenue to stop a vehicle fleeing Galesburg police.
The suspect’s vehicle struck Weist and then crashed in a field north of the intersection. Galesburg officers arrested suspect Daylon K. Richardson after a brief foot pursuit.
The incident began when Galesburg police officers responded to a call about a suspect with a gun at the Circle K gas station on Main Street at 8 a.m. Friday. Two officers found the suspect’s vehicle and attempted to stop traffic, but the vehicle was speeding north on Henderson Street, ignoring the lights and attempting to evade police. The chase from Galesburg on US Route 150 continued until the vehicle struck the Spike Strips and the deputy.
Nicholas “Nick” Wess obituary:July 28, 1987 to April 29, 2022
Henry County Prosecutor Catherine Runty said Richardson was charged with two counts of murder, one counting unlawful possession of a firearm by a criminal and one counting aggravated escape and escape. These are crimes allegedly committed in Henry County.
The Illinois State Police will continue their investigation into the entire case, including the incident that prompted the police call. Runty said she might step up the charges.
Weist was married and had children aged 12 and 9
According to his obituary, Weist was born on July 28, 1987 to Kevin Weist and Robin Monson in Platteville, Wisconsin. He married the love of his life Jessica Weist on January 11, 2012. Nick was a devoted husband and father to Jessica and their two children, Ava, 12, and Emery, 9.
He is survived by his wife and children by Viola; his parents, Robin (Bill) Monson and Kevin Weist; Sister Lindsay Weds all of Davenport; his paternal grandfather, Donald Weist, and his maternal grandfathers, Donald Mueller and Jim (Carol) Nicholas, Jr. He is also survived by step-siblings Jason (Cathleen) Monson; Bill (Christina) Monson; Ryan (Annie) Monson; Renee (Cory) Funk; Megan Monson; Jessica’s parents Cheryl and Lawrence Milder; sisters Kendra (Michael) Elledge and Jennifer (Joe) Kindon; and brother Benjy (Tiffany Bogardo) Milder. Nick was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Peggy Mueller, and his paternal grandmother, Mary Lou Weist.
Ever since he was a little boy, he wanted to be a police officer
The obituary states that Weist wanted to be a police officer when he was a boy. In 2009, he graduated from Western Illinois University with a degree in Law Enforcement and Administration of Justice. After an internship with the Rock Island Police Department, he worked as a security guard for Trinity Hospital in the Quad Cities. In 2012, he was hired by the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department as a 911 dispatcher and then correctional officer. On June 26, 2015, he was sworn into the Aledo Police Department and after graduating from the Illinois Police Training Institute in September 2015, he began his career on the road. He was also a volunteer for the Viola Fire Department.
In 2018, he began working as the sheriff’s deputy for Knox County, where he was working at the time of his death.
Knox County Assemblyman:What we know about the death of Nicholas Weist
According to his obituary, family was Nick’s top priority. He loved everything in nature and particularly enjoyed mountain biking and fishing with his children. He also enjoyed hunting deer, cooking and playing video games.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be placed at Quad City Bank & Trust, 3551 7th St. #100, Moline, IL 61265 in memory of Nicholas Weist.