Lewis Meinert

SUMNER
MEINERT, Lewis S., age 73, formerly of Marshall, Michigan now of Hendersonville, TN, died peacefully on Sunday, April 23, 2006, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. Lew was born January 24, 1933, in Muskegon, Michigan to the late Raymond and Mildred Berg Meinert, and grew up in Montague, MI. After graduating from high school, he moved to Chicago; not long after, he was drafted and served in the Army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he attended Western Michigan University, earning his B.B.A. in 1958, and in 1972, his M.B.A. He affiliated with Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Lew married Janis Palmiter in Kalamazoo in 1958; soon after he joined State Farm Insurance Co. as an underwriter, an association that lasted 38 years. He retired in 1997 as an Operations Superintendent. Through the years, he earned several insurance designations: CPCU, CLU, ChFC and FLMI, as well as taught insurance classes. He also served as president of the Southwestern Michigan chapter of CPCU and served on one of its national committees for several years. Until 1972, the Meinert's lived in Battle Creek, where they belonged to the First United Methodist Church UMC. Lew taught Sunday school classes and served on the Council of Churches. They then moved to Marshall where they joined Marshall UMC. Lew was a member of DAV, Marshall Executive Club, Exchange Club, Lyon Lake Country Club and The Medalist. In Hendersonville, Lew and Jan joined the First UMC, the Poe Williams Class and the Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club. His interests included traveling, golf, reading, bridge, and wintering in Lake Havasu City, AZ. Lew was most proud of his family. In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters Laura Bill Dake of Versailles, KY, and Lynley Mark Ebeling of Hartselle, AL; four grandchildren, Julia, Janet and James Date and Melissa Ebeling. He war preceded in death by son, Matthew, in 1987. Also surviving is brother, John Meinert, of Arlington Heights, IL, and sisters Arlene Lichtenberger of Wheeling, IL, and Darlene Rinehart, of Shelby, OH, and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held in May at the Marshall United Methodist Church, Marshall, MI, with Rev. Len Schoenherr and Dr. Howard Lyman officiating. Interment will take place at Mount Ever-rest, Kalamazoo, MI. Memorials are suggested to Hendersonville First UMC, the American Cancer Society, or The Salvation Army.
HENDERSONVILLE MEMORY GARDENS & FUNERAL HOME 353 JOHNNY CASH PARKWAY; HENDERSONVILLE, TN. 37075 615 824-3855 www.harpethhills.com