Eugene H. Meister

Eugene Meister, 83, of Benton Harbor, passed away Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home with Fr. Bill Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens with military rites conducted by Coloma American Legion Post #362, VFW Post #1137 Benton Harbor, and VFW Post #6802 Watervliet. Friends may call from 4:00 until 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Masonic Rites will be conducted at 8:00 P.M. Tuesday by F& AM Lakeshore Lodge #298 Benton Harbor. Memorials may be made to F &AM Lakeshore Lodge #298 or St. John-St. Bernard Parish. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Meister was born January 15, 1926 in Benton Harbor to Arthur & Luella (King) Meister. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1944. Gene served his country in the US Navy during World War II. On August 7, 1948, he married the former Lorraine Ruff in Benton Harbor. He was employed as a Tool & Die Maker at Ross Carriers in Benton Harbor, Mastro Corp. in Stevensville, and retired in 1988 from Gast Manufacturing in Benton Harbor. Gene served as Commander of the Berrien County Sherriff Department Reserve Officers and as a volunteer firefighter for Benton Township Fire Department. He was a member of the D.A.N.K in Benton Harbor, St. Joseph Elks #541 and VFW Post #1137, a life member of FOP Lodge #96 in St. Joseph and a 32nd Degree Mason with F& AM Lakeshore Lodge #298 where he was awarded the Windsor Award. In his free time, Gene enjoyed polka dancing, officiating races at Hartford Motor Speedway, hunting, and spending time with family & friends. Gene is survived by his children-Dan (Carol) Meister of St. Joseph, Ron Meister of Anderson, IN, Joanne (Dave) Lewis of Benton Harbor, John (Pat Provost) Meister of Pullman, MI; his long-time loving companion Marjorie Polfus of St. Joseph, nine grandchildren-Terry “TJ” Meister, Scott Murphy, Lori (Bryan) Young, Randy (Beth) Meister, Kathy Meister, Jordan Meister, Patty (Lee) Westfall, Brian Lewis, Brett Lewis; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law Frank Adcock & Orville Ruff; a sister-in-law Jeanne Ruff; and a life time of friends and acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine on May 15, 1993, by two brothers-George & Burt Meister, and by two sisters-Myrtle Littke & Ruth Retz.