Arnold F. Meister, 86, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Friday, September 26, 2014 at the Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen, Iowa. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. Burial will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Calvary Cemetery in Laurens, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at the Mauer – Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present at 4:00 p.m. to greet friends. A Knights of Columbus Rosary will be at 4:00 p.m. with a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at the church.
Arnold Francis Meister was born on February 10, 1928 at home in Lakeview, Iowa to Frank and Julia (Stangl) Meister. He was educated in a one room schoolhouse at Carroll County Schools. He lived in Manning, Iowa until 1944 when his family moved to Laurens, Iowa and he assisted on the farm. On December 11, 1946, Arnie enlisted in the United States Army. Arnie proudly served in the South Pacific Theater and earned an honorable discharge on June 18, 1948.
On September 26, 1952, Arnie and Mary Tjelmeland were married at Manning, Iowa and to this union three sons and four daughters were born, Debbie, David, Douglas, Diane, Dennis, Denise and Darcy. Mary passed away on August 12, 1988. Arnie worked at a poultry plant in Manning, M & JR Hakes in Laurens, IIH in Pocahontas, IBP in Storm Lake and Jensen Ford in Le Mars.
Arnold and Mabel Clark were united in marriage on August 25, 1992 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. Arnie was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and served as Grand Knight. He was also a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He served as a lay minister at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laurens and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. Arnie also taught CCD at Sacred Heart. He dearly loved his church. He collected coins, stamps and wrote numerous short stories. His legacy is his stories and albums.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Mabel of Le Mars; his children Debbie (Rick) DeWolfe of Florida; David (Teresa) of Omaha, NE; Doug (Mary) of Omaha, NE; Dennis (Kim) of Roseville, CA, Diane (Steve) Harney of Chillicothe, IL; Denise Meister-Guevara of Council Bluffs, IA and Darcy (Juan) Meister, Council Bluffs, IA; Mabel’s children, Guy (Kelly) Clark of Sioux City, IA, Dawn (Ernie) Eason of Orange City, IA, a daughter-in-law, Deb Kellen of Le Mars, IA; 24 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Cyril (Sharon) Meister of Council Bluffs, IA and Bob Meister of Clarksville, IA.
Arnie was preceded in death by his parents and mother and father-in-law, his first wife, Mary; Mabel’s sons, Clair and Loren Clark; grandson, Jashua Clark; great-grandson, Tyler DeWolfe; great-granddaughter, Allie DeJong; brothers, Laurence and Harold; and sister, Marie Gawley.
Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.
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