Gilbert E. “Gib” Meiners, 84, of Morrisonville died Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Decatur Memorial Hospital.
Visitation will be from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Nokomis. Funeral services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at the church with Pastor Bert Eickoff officiating.
Burial will be in Nokomis Cemetery in Nokomis. Stiehl-Dawson Funeral Home in Nokomis is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Meiners was born on Feb. 16, 1931, in Nokomis, the son of William George and Elsie (Keiser) Meiners. He married Hazel Smalley on Aug. 4, 1951, in Nokomis, and she preceded him in death on June 26, 1980. He then married Janice (Mindrup) Tester on Jan. 27, 1989, in Benton Harbour, MI, and she survives.
A farmer, he had worked with grain and livestock in the Morrisonville area since 1958. He was a Nokomis High School graduate with the class of 1949 and a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Nokomis and the Nokomis American Legion.
Mr. Meiners proudly served as a veteran of the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He was inducted in Jan. 8, 1952, and honorably discharged Dec. 23, 1953.
He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan, collected antique toy tractors and was a supporter of all sports. He was well known for his famous BBQ ribs and grew some of the tastiest sweet corn in the area. His greatest pride after his family was being offered to take the honor flight in 2014.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Meiners is survived by his children, Cindy (Jack) Dey of Taylorville, Terry (Cindy) Meiners of Nokomis and Sharon (Ernie) Burtle of Glenarm; stepchildren, Connie (Andy) Whalen, Earl (Anita) Tester and Jim (Shannon) Tester, all of Morrisonville; six grandchildren, Cara (Bryan) Thomas of Taylorville, Rachel (CJ) Stickel of Stonington, Bonnie (Eric) Brownback of Nokomis, Alissa (Robbi) Howard of Athens, Shellie (Ben) Martin of Edinburg and Jennie of Edwardsville; nine great-grandchildren, Isabella, Carter and Nora Thomas, Charlie, Casey, Charlotte Stickel, Natalie and Dayne Brownback and Addilyn Martin; seven stepgrandchildren, Angie Whalen, James (Mandy) Whalen, Neil, Jake and Clint Tester and Cade and Lexy Waterman, all of Morrisonville; and stepgreat-grandchildren, Braden, Zane and Jace Whalen.
The family suggests memorials be directed to the Montgomery County Cancer Association or Trinity Lutheran Church.
To view the online obituary, visit www.stiehldawsonfh.com.
