It's sad to say that my Grandpa Bob passed away on Monday. But I'm going to attach the obituary that was posted in the newspaper. It says a lot of his life. He was a great guy and I'm glad I got to know him. I remember when I cleaned his house after Barbara died, and he told me some stories about when he was younger and the river would freeze so they could go ice skating on it. I'm very glad I've had the privilege to be apart of his life. He will be missed!
John Robert (Bob) Meiners
RUPERT - John Robert (Bob) Meiners, 81-year-old Rupert resident, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2009, from injuries sustained in a farming accident.
He was born Sept. 12, 1927, in Burley, the son of Carl and Alice Blauer Meiners. He received his education and graduated from the Burley school system. He left home and went to northern Idaho to work in the silver mines, but being young and alone, the comforts of home soon forced him to make his way back to Burley.
He met and married Lola Edwards. To this union, three children were born, Robert Orlando, Romanda Fae and Walter Phillip. During this time, he enlisted in the Army and, in 1946, was deployed to Japan. After that tour of duty ended, he was once again called to serve in 1952. Upon his release, the family moved to Idaho Falls for a short time while Bob worked for Lockwood Graders, a potato equipment manufacturer. Bob was instrumental in the planning and development of the companies articulating piler and many other designs used on harvesters, windrowers and self-propelled machines.
When the couple divorced, Bob returned to Rupert and became the shop foreman of the Lockwood facility there. He met and married Barbara Broadhead, and the union added two more daughters, Bonnie Jean and Joaunee Dee Plocher. Shortly after the marriage, his oldest son, Robert Orland, was killed at the age of 14. It was a loss dad never recovered from. Never would there be a very long period of time pass that he wouldn't bring up Robert and how he wondered how life would have been were he here. Two of Bob's closest friends and fishing buddies, Mike and Rick Kechter formed Kechter Brothers and Bob joined the team. He later managed the Logan Farm Equipment dealership in Paul until his retirement.
During all these years, he faithfully held down his other full-time job - fishing. Fish feared him and everyone else wanted to learn his knack. There is hardly a stream or lake in the state that he hasn't fished as well as Alaska and the Washington coast. When the fish season closed, "the gang" grabbed their guns and the pursuit became ducks, geese, sage hens, antelope, deer and elk. But not to be sidelined through winter, out would come the ice fishing gear. He loved taking the grandsons fishing and hunting and lavished them with all his stories. The family tradition of spending Memorial Day weekend at Duck Falls running the rapids in his jet boat marked its 46th year in 2008. It has now spanned three generations.
At the time of his retirement, his grandson, Jeremy, had started the pursuit of farming. Dad had always said his one regret was not buying his own farm in his younger days. So he spent the last 15 years accomplishing that dream by partnering with Jeremy. He loved going in the semi or going out to check the fields and was never shy to let his feeling be known as to what was being done right or wrong. His involvement became an integral part of his life when his wife, Barbara, passed away in 2002.
He cherished the bustle of activity that kept him active and also the time he still spent hunting and fishing with his best friend, Mike Kechter. They had ice-fished at the Minidoka Dam three days before his death. It was while spending the day with Jeremy that he left us. But he would have wanted it no other way. Words cannot express the great loss we feel, but the memories and legacy he gave us binds us together and keeps us strong. His quiet demeanor has steadied us through many storms. He was a lifelong member of the LDS Church.
He is survived by his children, Romanda (Bruce) Berry, Wally (Vicki) Meiners and Bonnie Jacobson, all of Rupert, and Joaunee (Trent) Vorwaller of Denver, Colo.; grandchildren, Charmayne Scow, Bruce Berry, Masina Berry, Tyler Berry, Shantell Berry, Phillip Meiners, Cole Meiners, Wendy Meiners, Jeremy Vorwaller, Jud Vorwaller, Casey Vorwaller and Jaimi Vorwaller; 12 great-grandchildren; three sisters; and three brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara; son, Robert; his in-laws, Guy and Mary McAlister; two sisters; and two brothers.
The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Rupert LDS 3rd Ward Chapel, 526 S. F St. The viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, at the Hansen Mortuary, 710 Sixth St. in Rupert, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at the church.
The family would like to thank the incredible efforts made by Life Flight and the critical care team of Eastern Idaho Medical Center. Their efforts and comfort were outstanding.
Dad, you are in our hearts and we will miss you always.
