Ivan Meisner
Ivan Meisner, 77, of Garnavillo, passed away on May 31, 2021, at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. Ivan was born on Dec. 11, 1943, in rural Elgin, to Harold and Selma Friederich Meisner. He was baptized and confirmed at the Highland Lutheran Church. He was a current member of St. John Lutheran Church in Farmersburg.
In 1962, Ivan graduated from Valley High School of Clermont, Elgin and Wadena.
On June 20, 1964, he was married to Jeanne Hoffman. Four children were born to this union, Randy, Becky, Rick and Rodney.
During his adult years, Ivan was a cheesemaker at the Gunder Cheese Factory, assistant manager at the Great Plains Lumber yard in Farmersburg, manager of the Great Plains Lumber yard in Morristown, Minn., manager of United Building Center in Cresco and owner and operator of the Farmersburg Building Center. After his lumber yard burned for the second time, he spent 23 years at True Value Hardware in Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Ivan was a past member of the Farmersburg City Council, the Farmersburg Fire Department and the Farmersburg Library Board. He was also a member and past president of the Froelich Foundation.
In his spare time, he spent time working on his acreage in Farmersburg. He raised exotic breeds of cattle including Scottish Highlanders, British White Parks and belted Buelingos. He was also interested in restoring old tractors and farm equipment. A highlight of the year was taking his Farmalls to Garnavillo where family and friends would drive them in the Fourth of July Parade.
Ivan also enjoyed traveling. He was able to visit 49 states. He also visited Canada, Mexico, Iceland, Luxemborg, Germany, Switzerland and France. Ivan was a Hawkeye fan and went to many football games. He also traveled to Minneapolis to see the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. His favorite thing was get togethers with family and friends, especially if it involved a game of euchre.
Ivan is survived by his wife Jeanne; daughter Becky (Ed Raye) Meisner; son Rick (Amy Scherf) Meisner; granddaughter Sara (Jacob Nehl) Meisner; grandson Peyton Meisner; brothers George Lerch, Lyle (Chris) Meisner and Glen (Kathy) Meisner; sister Dorthy (Clint Frana) Shaw; sisters-in-law Edith (Lerch) Seitz and Joyce (Craig) Cummings; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and friends Alan Feldman and Ron and Mary Ann Gottschalk.
Ivan was preceded in death by his son Randy in 1973 and son Rodney in 2002, his parents, his brother Lawrence Lerch, sister Elva Mae Larson, brothers-in-law Eldon Shaw and Mervin Larson, and sister-in-law Barbara Lerch.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 5, at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmersburg. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Farmersburg with Pastor Jeremy Wolfe officiating. Burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Froelich Foundation.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elkader is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left with www.graufuneralhomes.com.
