Albert A. Meister, 97, of Mansfield, died on Father’s Day, June 16, 2013. Al was the first born of eleven children to John and Catherine (Schad) Meister on July 9, 1915 in Driftwood, Oklahoma. The family also lived in Harper, Kansas for several years before moving back to Mansfield, his mother’s home town, in 1923. He married the former Helen Haag on January 22, 1938.
As a teenager, he learned to work hard to help support the family by picking tons of pickles at a large pickle farm during the summers. He later spent a year at the Steel Mill and six years at the Knitting Mill before joining Gorman-Rupp in 1942 where he spent the rest of his working life, retiring in 1977. He was proud to have been drafted and serve in the Army Air Corps in 1944. Even though he never got to fly, he was able to use his building skills to keep the base in good repair in the South Pacific.
Over his lifetime, Al had many interests including cabinet and furniture making, grafting fruit trees for the orchard he planted, keeping a well maintained garden and large lawn and always coming up with ideas to improve ways to get his jobs done. Another of his many interests was building homes-including his own-even digging his own basement by hand. His work ethic set an example for his children and those he supervised, so no words were needed for them to know what was expected.
But his life was not all work and no play. His work was also his play. On the side he loved to play softball, tennis and ski. He had to give up tennis in his mid eighties and skiing at ninety when his loss of good sight made it too dangerous to continue.
While he always embraced the faith he was brought up with, he made a formal commitment to it when he joined the body of Christ at the Apostolic Christian Church on Middle Bellville Road at almost 92 years old. He loved many and was loved by many throughout his life.
He leaves behind to celebrate his new life, his wife of 75 years, Helen; son, David; daughter, Kathy (Don) McNeal, all in Mansfield; grandchildren, Bryan (Wendy) Meister and their children, Kristen and Bryanna in Lilburn, GA; Laura (Scott) Lyon in Logan, OH; Scott (Jen) McNeal and son, Ian in Issaquah, WA; Dave and Connie McNeal in Delaware, OH and their children and grandchildren; “adopted” son, Stan Stombaugh of Mansfield; and former daughter-in-law, Dixie Meister in Mansfield. Surviving siblings are sister, Barbara Scott and brother, James in Mansfield. In addition to his parents, sisters, Elizibeth Miller, Ruth Desterhaft and Viola Popp and brothers, Jake, Walter, Richard, Robert and Donald preceded him in death.
The family will receive friends Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 5-7 p.m. in the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road. The funeral service will be held Thursday at 1:00 p.m. in the Apostolic Christian Church, Middle Bellville Road. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park with military honors presented by the Richland County Joint Veterans Burial Detail. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church or a charity of the donor’s choice.
