Cover photo for William Meek's Obituary
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1935 William 2020

William Meek

January 17, 1935 — June 26, 2020

Battle Lake

William James “Bill” Meek, Sr., passed peacefully from this life to meet his Savior face to face on June 26th, 2020, surrounded by his family.

William was born to Samuel Jones and Johnnie Edith (Daniels) Meek on January 17th, 1935 in the coal camp of Drift, Kentucky. Raised in Wayland, KY, for the first 12 years of his life, William was the childhood friend and playmate of "King" Kelly Coleman, wherein he developed an affection for the game of basketball. In 1947, his parents and family moved to Gallia County, Ohio, where he would spend the majority of his life.

William graduated from Rio Grande High School in Raccoon Township in 1953. He enlisted in the Army later that year and completed Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and served primarily as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was here he met and became lifelong friends with Fr. John A Kaiser from Otter Tail County, MN and developed a great appreciation for the area and its people.

On April 23rd, 1955, William had the good fortune of marrying his High School sweetheart and love of his life, Martha Louise (Adams) Meek in Richmond, Indiana. William graduated from Rio Grande College in Rio Grande, Ohio in 1959 with a degree in education. William taught and coached basketball in multiple towns throughout Ohio, but primarily taught and retired from teaching in 1989 through the Gallia County School System.

William acquired a great love for animal husbandry and agriculture through his Vo-Ag teacher, Mr. Sydney Fadely. William and Martha raised sheep, pigs, cattle, and Tennessee Walking Horses on several of their farms. William always claimed, “I taught school for 30 years so I could afford to farm”.

While never learning to read music, William was a gifted guitar and banjo player, and could also play the piano, fiddle, and dulcimer.

William and Martha fulfilled a mutual lifelong dream when they retired to Otter Tail County in 1997.

William is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Martha; oldest son, Bill Jr.; parents; brothers, John A Meek and Samuel L Meek; a sister, Joanna Corfias of Gallipolis, and a grandson.

He is survived by his sons: Jonathan Meek of Battle Lake, Minnesota, Benjamin (Deb) Meek of Eskridge, Kansas, Jeffrey (Sherry) Meek of Eugene, Oregon, Adam (Kattie) Meek of Battle Lake, Minnesota; twelve grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.  Also surviving are siblings, Bette (Rudy) Gierich of Springfield, VA, Mary K (Joseph) DiSantis, of Gallia County, Ohio, Thomas (Jean) Meek of Gallia County, and Kenneth Meek of Gallia County; brother-in-law, Dewey V (Sandy) Adams of Underwood, Tilda Eloise Sakmar of Underwood; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. James Catholic Church or Orphans Lifeline International, 135 Kelly Road, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Visitation: 5 – 7 PM Tuesday, with a 6:30 PM Rosary, followed by a prayer service, at St. James Catholic Church, rural Underwood, and one hour prior to the Mass on Wednesday.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11 AM Wednesday, July 1, 2020, at St. James Catholic Church.  For those unable to attend, a live stream will be available on William’s memorial page at www.GlendeNilson.com.

Clergy: Father LeRoy Schik

Military Honors: Minnesota National Guard

Interment: St. James Catholic Cemetery

Arrangements by Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Meek, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

St. James Catholic Church

32009 Co Hwy 74, Underwood, MN 56586

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Recitation of the Rosary

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Starts at 6:30 pm (Central time)

St. James Catholic Church

32009 Co Hwy 74, Underwood, MN 56586

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

St. James Catholic Church

32009 Co Hwy 74, Underwood, MN 56586

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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