Carl Edward Weant

Carl Edward Weant, 92, of Taneytown, passed away peacefully at the farm where he lived his entire life on Sunday Aug. 17, 2025.

Born June 20, 1933, he was the son of the late Lake G. Weant and Grace E. (Spangler) Weant. He was the loving husband of Grace V. (Zimmerman) Weant with whom he shared nearly 64 years of marriage. He was the stepson of the late Lucy K. Weant, whom his father later married after his mother was killed in a tragic car accident in 1958.

Carl was a lifelong farmer -- milking cows and raising crops on land that has been in his family for six generations.

He attended a two-room schoolhouse in Harney before graduating from Taneytown High School in 1951. Growing up, he was active in 4-H and represented Maryland at 4-H Club Congress in Chicago in 1953. Later, he was one of the leaders of the Harney Boys 4-H Club and helped with the tractor safety program.

Carl served on the regional boards of Dairyman Inc. and the Dairy Farmers of America milk cooperatives. He also served on the Carroll County Weed Control Board for many years. He was a member of the Carroll County Holstein Association. Carl and Grace belonged to the longest-meeting Carroll County Farm Bureau “Young Farmers” Discussion Group, which nurtured many of their lifelong friendships. They were longtime members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Taneytown.

Carl enjoyed everything associated with farming from his daily chores to attending farm sales and machinery shows and going with Grace every year to the membership meetings hosted by their milk co-op in cities across the country. He thought the best tractors were green and yellow and that dairy products – especially milk, butter and ice cream – should be served at every meal.

Carl was probably best known as one of Santa’s helpers – sent to spread joy every December while Santa Claus himself was busy finalizing things at the North Pole. For more than 50 years, Carl would finish his evening chores early, put on his red suit and go door-to-door in Harney, Taneytown and beyond. Wide-eyed children at each home were amazed to see Santa on their porch. For many families, he was the Santa of choice -- returning year after year and listening to wish lists from multiple generations. It was a vocation Carl took very seriously, which also brought him great happiness. Sometimes, he even convinced Grace to go along as Mrs. Claus.

Carl valued family and friendship most of all. He was happiest on the farm surrounded by people he loved -- whether they were gathered for a picnic or party, helping with fieldwork or had just dropped by unexpectedly while he was in the barn.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son Todd and daughter-in-law Joanne of Taneytown; granddaughters Katie Grace Fox (Kaden) of Dellroy, OH and Tessie Weant (Quinn Dittrich) of Salisbury, MD; great-grandchildren Jaxson and Haven Fox; brother Merle C. Weant of Littlestown, PA and many cherished nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins and friends.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday Aug. 22 at Myers-Durboraw Funeral Home, P.A., 136 E. Baltimore St., Taneytown, MD 21787.

Funeral services will be held Saturday Aug. 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 38 W. Baltimore St., Taneytown with his Pastor Stacy Marsh officiating. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Interment at Sunrise Cemetery, Bowers Road, Harney immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to the 4-H Tractor Operator Contest at the Carroll County 4-H & FFA Fair, P.O. Box 97, Westminster, MD 21158.