Gary Leonard Meixell

A memorial gathering for Gary Meixell, age 77, of Milaca, will be held from 2 -4 PM on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Timber Valley Grille in Milaca.  Burial will take place at Borgholm Cemetery at a later date.

Gary Leonard Meixell was born April 3, 1941 to Leonard and Jean (Frye) Meixell in Blue Earth, MN. Gary was the third of seven children. As a young boy, he started school in Granada, MN until moving to Princeton, MN in November of 1947.  He graduated from Princeton High School in 1959. In high school, Gary was active in football, basketball and track.  He was captain for the football team in 1958.

In March of 1961, Gary enlisted in the US Navy.  He spent most of his service during the Vietnam War on the USS Bon Homme Richard CVA31 Aircraft Carrier.  He was honorably discharged on March 6, 1965 as an Aviation Ordinance Man 2^ndClass.

After returning from Vietnam, Gary met Carol Kamstra and they were married on November 13, 1965. To this union three children were born, Greg, Diane and Donna.  Gary and Carol bought a dairy farm southeast of Bock in 1969.  They sold the farm in December of 1999 and they moved to town.

Gary enjoyed deer and pheasant hunting, fishing, watching sports on TV and talking politics.  Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his four grandsons, Josh, Devin, Tristan and David.

Gary always had a warm welcome for a visitor and loved to entertain them with a joke or two.  He passed away on Sunday, April 22, 2018 with family by his side.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Carol;  children, Gregory Meixell of St. Cloud, Diane Meixell of Milaca and Donna (Claus) Salgren of Milaca;  four sisters, Mavis Holter of Milaca, Clarice (Darald) Harman of Princeton, Lenice (Larry) Daudt of San Antonio, TX and Glenda Meixell of Coon Rapids;  two brothers, Cedric (Donna) Meixell of Princeton and Steven (Sandy) Meixell of Pease;  sister-in-law, Betty (Earle) Carlson of Aitkin and his four grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his parents and infant granddaughter, Alyssa.