Donald Meier

Donald W. Meier, age 88 of Sauk Centre, died Monday, July 5, 2010 at his home in Sauk Centre, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 8 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Andrew Marthaler officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. The Sauk Centre Seniors will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5:15 p.m. and the United Veterans Prayer Service at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Donald William Meier was born February 7, 1922 on a farm near Bird Island, Minnesota, the youngest of three sons born to William and Anna (Prokosch) Meier. Don graduated from St. Mary's High School in Bird Island and worked a variety of jobs before enlisting in the army. He served in the Panama Canal Zone as a Sergeant in Coast Artillery from 1942 to 1945. On August 25, 1948 he married Elaine Neville at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Olivia, Minnesota. Don attended one year at Elgin Watchmakers College in Elgin, Illinois. He did his apprenticeship in Luverne, Minnesota where his two sons, Daniel Joseph and Lawrence Donald were born. In 1952 he purchased a jewelry store in Bird Island. In 1954, Don and Elaine welcomed their third child, Leanne. The family moved to Sauk Centre in 1960 when Don purchased an existing jewelry store. In 1972, Don sold the business and went to work at Dayton's where he retired in 1985. Don was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre, Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus, Saint Paul's Catholic Aid, American Legion Post 67, and the Sauk Centre Seniors. He was past president of the Sauk Centre Lions Club and past president of the Sauk Centre Area Chamber of Commerce.

Don is survived by his wife of 61 years, Elaine Meier of Sauk Centre; children, Daniel (Susie) Meier of Charlotte, North Carolina, Lawrence (Clare) Meier of Morris, and Leanne (Fil) Meier of Maplewood; and grandchildren, Michelle Meier of El Cerrito, California, Patrick Meier of Roseville, and Karla Meier of Santa Monica, California.

Don was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Bernard Meier and Raymond Meier.

Serving as casket bearers will be Patrick Meier, Gary Meier, Russell Nere, Brad Nere, Bob Meier, Tim Kodet, Jeff Kodet, and John Meier. Cross bearers will be Michelle Meier and scripture bearer will be Jolene Meier. Honorary casket bearers will be the Sauk Centre Senior Card Group.

Memorials are preferred to St. Michael's Hospice.