Lorraine LeRoy Meek

LODI- Lorraine LeRoy Meek, 91, died on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, two days short of his 92nd birthday. He was born on the Meek homestead farm on the Arlington Prairie to LeRoy and Idella (Daley) Meek. Lorraine was baptized in the Arlington Prairie Church and graduated from Lodi High School with 39 other friends in the class of 1939. He was proud of the fact that the Meek family is now 5 generations in the Lodi area. Lorraine married Elinor Anderson (daughter of Martin and Alice) on Sept. 21, 1942 in the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. From this union, six children were born: Shyrle (Tom Pollak), Ronald (deceased), Beverly (Allen Reinke), Sandra Peters, Douglas (Christine), and Jeffrey (Lisa). He is also survived by 27 grandchildren; seven greats; and four great-greats and by his daughter-in-law, Linda (Joe Polite). Lorraine returned home from serving during WWII and worked briefly at Mautz Paint and then went to the Ice Division at Oscar Mayer. He later worked in the meat packing division of the same. He loved the ice business and saw an opportunity and Lodi Ice Co was formed in 1945. Lorraine retired from Oscar Mayer after 40+ years but continued with his beloved ice business until the age of 86. He was proud of his service in the Navy Armed Guard during WWII. Lorraine worked as a gunner aboard the U. S. Robert Neighbors and traveled in a convoy protecting a destroyer. They made several trips across the North Atlantic in the European theater of the war. He always talked of his ship being in the “coffin corner” of the convoy as his ship rode in the rear right corner and would have been the first one attacked. His partner was the cook so after gunnery exercises he would have to leave to prepare the meal and Lorraine would have to do the cleaning. He never complained though as “the food was good”. He was a member of the Lodi Optimist Club, the American Legion, the Lodi Historical Society, and delivered blood from the American Red Cross blood mobile to the Madison blood bank for 25 years. Lorraine was privileged to travel on the Badger Honor Flight in 2011 and was able to view the WWII veterans’ memorial. Lorraine was predeceased by his wife, Elinor; son, Ron; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Dolores Meek; daughter in law, Loretta Meek; and son-in-law, Bill Peters. Funeral services will be held at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 206 Pleasant St., Lodi , at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2013, with Pastor Michael Lee and Chaplain Dan Pulsfus officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2013, and from 10 a.m. until the time of service on Wednesday. Memorials may be made to the Lodi Food Pantry, the Lodi Optimist Club, the Lodi Historical Society, First Lutheran Church, the Badger Honor Flight or Good Samaritan nursing home. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. “He was the ROCK of his family and will be missed by all who knew and loved him” Hamre-Gunderson Funeral & Cremation Care 157 S. Main St., Lodi (608)592-3201