PASSINGS: Robert L. Wieland
ROBERT L. WIELAND, 91, an original founder of what came to be the National Kitchen & Bath Association, on Aug. 20 at Devon House Senior Living in Allentown, Pa.
Robert L. WielandHe began a lifelong career in 1947 as an award-winning kitchen designer at his family’s business, Kitchens by Wieland, in Allentown. In 1963, he helped found the American Institute of Kitchen Dealers (AIKD), serving as its second president and presiding over the first AIKD Kitchen Show in New York in 1965.
The AIKD later merged with the National Kitchen Distributors Association and evolved into the NKBA. The AIKD Kitchen Show changed its name in 1981 to the National Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS).
In 1968, Wieland became the industry’s first Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) after helping to develop the program with the University of Illinois. He also spearheaded the program to create the Kitchen Industry Technical Manuals.
Over the course of his career, Wieland won 47 NKBA Design Competition awards, including the 1990 James Foster Memorial Award. In 1990, he was inducted into the NKBA National Kitchen & Bath Hall of Fame.
He owned Kitchens by Weiland in Allentown until 2001.
Wieland served in the U.S. Army during the occupation of Japan after World War II and in the Korean War.
He was predeceased by his wife, Elizabeth; his parents, Harry and Florence Wieland; his grandson Brenton Wieland; and his siblings, Richard Wieland and Harriet Mayer. He is survived by childen Lizette Nicholas (Keith) and Kent Wieland (Dian).
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Zion’s “Liberty Bell” Reformed U. C. C., 620 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, or the Liberty Bell Museum, 622 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101.
