Donald R. "Don" Meinhart
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5B - December 16, 2011
Donald R. "Don" Meinhart was
born on July 20, 1921 to Roy and
Olive Meinhart in Toledo, Ohio.
In his early years he excelled in
baseball and football both in high
school and College. He graduated
from the University of Toledo in
Toledo, OH.
Don attended Annapolis Naval
Academy to receive his officers
training, and then served 29
months in the U.S. Navy during
World War II as an officer aboard
the light cruiser USS Denver and
also aboard the aircraft carrier
USS Cape Gloucester in the
South Pacific where he was involved
in several battle engagements
off the coast of the Philippines.
On December 20, 1944 he married
Florine France. She preceded
him in death on October 15, 2003. They raised eight children together.
Don owned and operated a small business called Flodon
Swaging in Temperance, Michigan for 25 years, where he had lived
for 51 years before buying a 1640 acre ranch and moving to Glade
Park, CO in 1972.
Don loved his family and had many friends, he also loved the outdoors,
hunting, fishing, and especially hunting for big game. Don
enjoyed traveling and had been to many parts of the world including,
three safaris to Africa and five trips to Alaska. Many trophies
can be seen in his trophy room.
Don is survived by four sons, Gary E. of Temperance, MI; Melvin
J. of Glade Park, CO; Raymond P. of Grand Junction, and Vernon
D. Meinhart of Loma, CO; three daughters, Becky Ann Barber of
Bailey, CO; Shirley Jean Perry of Colorado Springs, CO, and Donna
M. Hardy of Grand Junction, CO; 25 grandchildren, and 25
great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Florine;
parents, Roy and Olive; son, John D. Meinhart; one brother, and one
sister.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2011 from
8:30 - 10:00 a.m. with a funeral service following at 10:00 a.m. at
Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Interment and Military Honors will take
place on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Memorial
Gardens Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care
of Western Colorado, 3090B No. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO
81506.
