Robert Meister

Robert “Bob” Leonard Meister, 82, a resident of Fergus Falls, died peacefully at home on Saturday, March 21, 2009, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 25, 1926, in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, the son of Walter and Frances (Schussler) Meister. He attended grade school in Sheboygan and Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and after moving to Fargo, ND, with his family he graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1944. Following high school, he enlisted in the Army and served in World War II with the 11th Airborne Division as an infantry paratrooper in the Philippine Island Liberation Campaign forces and with the Japanese Occupation forces from 1944-1946.  Upon returning from the war, he attended St. John’s University at Collegeville, MN for two years, and then graduated from NDSU with a degree in Pharmacy in 1951. On August 20, 1949, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Glenda Marie Haakenson, at Olivet Lutheran Church in Fargo, ND. After graduating from NDSU, Bob accepted employment as a pharmacist with Stemsrud and Emerson Drug in Fergus Falls. In 1959, Bob and Jack Andrews bought the Nelson Drug Company and as partners operated Andrews and Meister Drug, Inc. until 1991. Mr. Meister formally retired in 1996 after practicing pharmacy in Fergus Falls for 45 years. During their retirement Bob and Glenda enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and abroad, including Europe and the Middle East. Touring Israel was “like going home” they often said. For ten years they loved their winters spent at their home in Sun City, AZ. Mr. Meister was active in his church and community. He sang in the church choir for many years, and served on the church council and as council president at First Lutheran Church. He also served on the city planning commission for several years. He was a life member with the V.F.W., Elks, and Mason’s. He was active in the Jaycees as a young man and was president of the Golf Board. Mr. Meister enjoyed his friends, listening to New Orleans Blues, Dixieland, Jazz and Louis Armstrong and classical music.  Bob and his friend, Dr. Bud Rockwood spent many evenings listening to Jazz and Dixieland, playing a game, “Name That Tune”.  He also enjoyed golfing, skiing, gardening, reading history, crossword puzzles, and the many years of hunting near Itasca with his “hunting buddies”. He especially loved and took pride in his wife, children and grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Richard and Frances Emma Meister, and his brother, James “Jim” Meister of Great Falls, MT. He is survived and missed by his wife of 59 years, Glenda Meister, of Fergus Falls; his children and grandchildren: Robert (Dianne) Meister, Elizabeth, Daniel and Jacob of Fairhope, AL, Timothy Meister of Plano, TX, Nancy (John) Post, Alex, Tina and Adam of Golden Valley, MN, Jon (Joni) Meister of Edina, MN, and David (Susan) Meister, Andrew, Tim, Stephen and Rachel of Bartlett, IL; one brother, Neal (Lois) Meister of St. Cloud, MN; and many nieces, nephews, and several cousins. Memorials are preferred to your choice of charity. Visitation: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with a time of remembering and sharing at 6:30 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church.      Service:  11 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls Clergy: Rev. Saul Stensvaag Burial:  First Lutheran Cemetery North, Fergus Falls Arrangements: Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls. Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com