Timothy Gene Meicher

Meicher, Timothy Gene MADISON-Timothy Gene Meicher left this earth to, as he so eloquently put it, “await my next incarnation” on Thursday, April 9, 2015. Tim was born in Madison, on Jan. 21, 1957 to Gregory and Marcia (Lemon) Meicher. He spent his first years of school at St. Dennis Catholic grade school until the family moved to McFarland where he finished his middle and high school years. Tim then followed his older brother, Todd into the military service with the U.S. Air Force. He served honorably as a packing and freight specialist loading gear on the largest cargo planes in our Air Force, the C5 Galaxy. Tim attended basic training in Lackland Air Force Base in Texas and his technical training in Maine. He was then assigned to Travis Air Force Base in California where by some luck his brother Todd was also stationed. Tim was an adventurer and when he received orders for temporary duty in Thailand he was thrilled. His three month tour of duty in Thailand had a profound and enlightening effect on Tim that in many ways guided the rest of his life. By this time the Vietnam conflict was winding down and the Air Force was over manned and offering early separation with benefits, so Tim decided to leave. He and Todd then attended classes at Solano Community College majoring in horticulture and landscape design. While attending classes, both brothers worked for Hanson Turfing and Landscaping doing what Tim called “making California prettier”. Tim loved people and even more he loved his solitude. He would wander the redwood trees in Armstrong State Forest, sleep on the black sand beaches up in the Lost Coast of Humbolt County and tell the folks living there that he was from Wisconsin, the real dairy state, and the real home of John Muir and Aldo Leopold. Tim was an avid reader, devouring the works of Hermann Hesse, Carlos Casteneda, biographies, history, fiction... you name it. In the fall of 1979 Tim decided it was time to come back home to Wisconsin, having been on the West Coast for five years. He took a job at East Towne Mall in the maintenance department which turned into a career with Jacobs, Visconsi and Jacobs Corporation which owned many large mall properties, one of which Tim became head maintenance manager of in Niles, Ill. His final place of employment was with TR McKenzie Property Management in Madison. Tim was so grateful to the McKenzie family for keeping him working even through his long illness and for this we give special thanks to them and all their employees. During this time Tim met and married Tracey and they had a son whom they named Mason. Tim then adopted Tracey’s son, Keith. He would often tell anyone listening that this was the greatest thing that ever happened in his life. He loved, respected and had immense pride in both of “his boys”. Tim and his family would like to thank the Madison Veteran’s Hospital and Clinics and the U.W. Hospital for all of the care he gratefully received. The doctors and staff will always be in our prayers. Tim held much wisdom and shared it lovingly with those who were lucky enough to know him deeply. Through his battles, he showed us all what courage, honor, tenacity, endurance and love were really about. Tim is survived by his two sons, Keith and Mason; their caring mom, Tracey; his mother, Marcia Murillo; step-father, Andrew; brothers, Jeffrey (Mary) Meicher, Todd (Wendy) Meicher, Adam (Dawn) Meicher; sister, Linda Garret; uncle, Don (Dyanne) Meicher; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Gregory Meicher; his paternal grandparents, John and Clara Meicher; and his maternal grandparents, Lloyd and Theresa Lemon. A memorial service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, at 11 a.m., on Monday, April 13, 2015. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to your favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420