Caledonia Argus

Posted: 6/25/04

Rev. John Gerhard Meiners

Rev. John Gerhard Meiners, 80, retired United Church of Christ minister and Delano, MN, resident, died May 14, 2004. He was born January 20, 1924 in Eitzen, the son of Alfred and Anna (Thiele) Meiners. He married Maeanna Schaust of Delano on June 24, 1949 at St. Johnís Evangelical and Reformed Church in Minneapolis. He was a graduate of Waukon, IA, Junior College and received a B.A. degree from Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, IL, in 1944. He graduated from Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO in 1946. He further studied at Union Theological Seminary in New York and Boston University School of Theology.

Upon graduation, he served as pastor at St. Paulís United Church of Christ in Delano until 1950. He then served as pastor of congregations in Louisville (Lynnhurst), Arlington Heights, IL (St. John), and Sussex, WI (Redeemer). He served as Wright County DFL chairman. In 1988 he was honored as Delano Citizen of the Year by the Crow River Federated Womenís Club. He was President of the Delano Clergy Association and chaired the Delano Area United Way.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Maeanna; a son, John Alfred; and his parents, Alfred and Anna (Thiele) Meiners of Eitzen.

He is survived by his daughter Annie Arnold (Dan) of Plymouth; one granddaughter; one great-granddaughter. In addition, he is survived by three step-grandchildren; seven step-great-grandchildren.

Services were held Tuesday, May 18 at 11 a.m. at St. Paulís United Church of Christ in Delano. Rev. Ken Iha officiated.Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Iten Funeral Home, Delano, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Interment was in the church cemetery.

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