Herman McDonnell Meiners Sr.
Longtime Juneau resident Herman McDonnell Meiners Sr. died Dec. 9, 2009, at his home after battling liver cancer. He was 83.
Born in Kansas City, Mo., Oct. 2, 1926, to Herman and Josephine Meiners, he graduated from Rockhurst High in 1944. He served with the U.S. Army as a sergeant in the Asia Pacific Rim from 1945 to 1946. He returned to Kansas City after discharge, attending Rockhurst College before working for an engineering firm building a pipeline across the Midwest.
He married Mary Lou Wilkinson in 1951. He moved to Fairbanks with his family in 1958 to work on the Distant Early Warning Line, which was set up to detect incoming Soviet bombers during the Cold War. In 1964, the family moved to Juneau, where Herman worked for the Department of Public Safety.
He enjoyed fishing and boating as well as many trips driving through the states. His favorite activity was playing pinochle at The Triangle Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Jack; and sister, Frances.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Meiners; children, Mac Meiners and wife, Donna, Dennis Meiners and wife, Lisa, Melanie White and husband, Larry, Dave Meiners and wife, Mari, and Andy Meiners and wife, Amy Jo; grandchildren, Kevin, Don and Tom Meiners, Kyle White and Maggie, Gracie and Abby Meiners; sister, Sue Standiford; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Juneau Hospice and Home Care, 419 Sixth St., Juneau, AK, 99801.
A funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Cathedral of the Nativity with a reception to follow at the Parish Hall.