Robert Meinhardt

Robert E. Meinhardt, 89, of Mendota passed away Nov. 7 2019, in Alden Poplar Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Hoffman Estates, surrounded by family.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Mendota with the Rev. Steve Mindrup officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota with military honors by Mendota VFW Post 4079. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.

Bob was born Nov. 14, 1929, in Ottumwa, Iowa to Orris and Madge (Surrena) Meinhardt. He married Karoline (Hanson) on Feb. 4, 1955, in Pipestone, Minn.

He grew up on a farm in Iowa. After high school graduation he joined the military, serving in the Army branch at the end of World War II in the military tribunal and also served during the Korean War. He then attended South Dakota State University where he graduated with a degree in agri-science where he met his wife. They moved to Dixon after their marriage and then in 1962 he moved his family to Mendota and continued his lifetime love of farming and the seed business.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and was a church council member. He served on the Mendota school board. He was a lifelong member of Mendota Elks Club and a member of Free Masons Society and many agriculture-related organizations.

Robert is survived by his three children: one son, Tom (Ruth) Meinhardt of Mendota and two daughters, Nancy (Bill) Mathieu of Amboy and Kristine (Del) Woodhouse of Hoffman Estates; seven grandchildren, Jason (Nicole) Meinhardt of Sterling, Kimberly Meinhardt of Brooklyn, N.Y., Timothy Meinhardt and his finance Kelsey Quick of West Brooklyn, Cora Mathieu of Mendota, Michael (Holly) Mathieu of Troy Grove, Matthew Woodhouse of Haslet, Mich., and Rachel Woodhouse of Columbia, Mo.; and eight great grandchildren,

He was preceded in death by his father in 1961, his mother in 1974 and then his wife, Karoline in 1994, as well as his stepsisters, Lavonia Allsup in 1937 and Vera Stout in 1998 and his sister, Lois Dunley in 2008.

Memorials may be directed to St John’s Lutheran Church or Illinois Alzheimer’s Association.