Earl Q. Meester

Earl Q. Meester

Sheldon, Iowa

            Services for Earl Q. Meester, age 93, of Sheldon who passed away on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon.  His celebration of life service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 11, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon with Pastor Daniel Baker ~ officiating.

            Private family burial will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Sheldon.

            Visitation with family present will be from 10 A.M. until service time on Friday, August 11, 2023, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon.

            In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church.

                                The Service will be Livestreamed on Facebook.com/SheldonStPaulLutheranChurch

            Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

EARL Q. MEESTER

BORN

October 22, 1929

East Holman Township, Osceola County, Iowa

PASSED AWAY

August 5, 2023

Sheldon, Iowa

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

11:00 A.M. Friday, August 11, 2023

St. Paul Lutheran Church; Sheldon, Iowa

Pastor Daniel Baker ~ Officiating

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

“Amazing Grace”

“In The Garden”

“How Great Thou Art”

Pianist:  Arlyce Oosterhuis

FINAL RESTING PLACE

St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery

Sheldon, Iowa

After today’s service, relatives and friends

are invited to join the family in the

fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

Earl Quinten Meester, was born in Holman Township, Osceola County, Iowa on October 22, 1929 to Henry Harm and Mary Elizabeth (Ransom) Meester with an older half brother, Harold who became his best friend throughout life.  At the age of two, Earl lost his mother to a tragic wash house fire and explosion.  He was sent to live with paternal family until his father remarried.  He attended school through the 8^th grade and then was needed to work the family farm helping his father support a growing new family.

     Earl married Shirley Ann Schmidt, his wife of 66 years on November 25, 1956 in Hartley, IA.  They raised daughter, Deanna and son, Douglas.  The family lived in Hartley, Mason City, Sibley, rural Ashton and rural Sheldon.  Earl worked at various occupations but he always came back to his love of driving trucks.  Throughout the years he drove for Steenblock Trucking, Wills Truck Line, Mouw Trucking, and Bradd Dreessen Trucking.

     Earl never met a stranger.  He could strike up a conversation with anyone he met.  He enjoyed visiting with folks passing through the area with just a quick question of “where you from?” or “where you headed?” while out for his daily coffee break.  He loved woodworking and making keepsakes to pass on to his family.  His family will cherish his handiwork.

     Earl is preceded in death by his parents, half-sister Elizabeth, his beloved half-brother Harold and wife Helen, and sisters-in-law Rose Meester and Kay Holst.

     He is survived by his wife Shirley, daughter Deanna (Craig) Akeson, son Douglas (Pat), as well as grandchildren Cole (Maria) and Melissa Akeson, Dustin (Katie) Meester, Tyler (Paige) Meester, and Amanda (Scott) Glaser and 12 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by half siblings Henry, Dennis (Jean), Robert (Karen), Mary (John) Honkomp, and Linda (Tom) Wilson as well as sisters- in-law Betty Pahl and Bonnie Newman.  Many nieces, nephews and friends are also left to cherish his memory.