Gene Alan Meier

GENE MEIER
Gene Alan Meier, 76, Spirit, Wisconsin, died while taking a nap at his farm shop in the Town of Spirit on Sunday, November 18, 2018. He was born in Spirit on November 9, 1942, the son of Roy and Helen (Risberg) Meier. He attended Primary School at the Liberty School in Spirit and was a 1960 graduate of the Rib Lake High School. Upon graduation, Gene performed with the 4-H chorus at the Wisconsin State Fair. He then attended Farm Short Course in Madison and then served for two years in India with the Peace Corps. While in Peace Corps, Gene visited Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. After returning he worked for the Hardeman Ranch in Wilson, Wyoming, drove truck for Don McCumber of Spirit, and operated equipment for Francis Melvin of Medford. He was married to Marie Morey in Phillips on June 7, 1969. He milked dairy cows with his brother, Ron Meier, until the late ’70’s. Gene raised beef cattle, was a cattle trucker, logged and was his son’s right hand man. He was a member of Spirit Lutheran Church and after marriage, Assembly of God Church in Tomahawk and later was a member of the Spirit Baptist Church, where he served as a Trustee and Deacon. He served as a 4-H leader and was very involved in the 4-H Market Animal Sale. In 1996 Gene was recognized by the Price County 4-H as the Outstanding Leader of the year. Gene was a member and Past President of the Wisconsin Cattleman’s Association, who honored him as Cattleman of the Year in 1995. Gene was also active with the Northern Wisconsin Beef Producers Association, Badger Breeders, Price County Farm Bureau, Morning Glory, Central Wisconsin DHIA, Delegate for AMPI, Equity Livestock Coop, German Settlement Historical Society, Price County Farmers Marketing Association, as president for more than 30 years, and Northcentral Wisconsin Cattlemens Association, which he supported wholeheartedly. In his free time, he enjoyed helping others, taking trips out west to visit rancher friends, being a cowboy, riding his horse, Sonny, going to the annual Farm Progress Days & steam shows, reading, eating maple nut ice cream and playing with his grandchildren, who called him “Papa Gene.”
He is survived by one daughter Johanna (Troy) Holliday, Minneapolis, MN; by one son, Lance (Jenna), Spirit; by 12 grandchildren; and by two sisters, Marie (Marvin) Arneson, Ogema, and Marilyn Erickson, Prentice. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, on August 28, 2011; and is also preceded in death by three brothers, Ronald, Arne, and Wesley.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, November 24, at the Ogema Baptist Church with Pastors Duane Harper and Don Rhody officiating. Friends may call at the church on Friday, November 23, after 4:00 P.M. and on Saturday from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services. Interment will be in the Spirit Hillcrest Cemetery in the Town of Spirit.
The family suggests that memorial offerings take the form of a contribution to a fund which the family will establish.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.heindlfuneralhome.com.
The Heindl Funeral Home in Prentice is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.