Lucille M Meissner

Lucille M. Meissner, age 83, of rural Good Thunder died Saturday evening, July 3, 2004 at her home.

Funeral services 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato, with Rev. Wayne Eichstadt officiating. Interment in St. Johns Lutheran Cemetery, rural Rapidan. Visitation on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m. at Mankato Mortuary and one hour before services at church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church, Mankato.

In the morning we would wake up to hear mother singing hymns in the kitchen. She believed it was important to teach by example. Prayer, scripture reading and family devotions were a daily way of life. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years, especially ministering to diverse backgrounds. Red, yellow, black and white all are precious in Gods sight was her motto. From church cleaning to church choir and holding offices in Ladies Aid, serving the Lord was a priority all her life.

Known for her green thumb, Lucille loved to tend her flower and vegetable gardens " canning, freezing and sharing the abundance. A talented cook with a gift of hospitality, her table was often filled with service men from Fort Hood Army Base, Killeen, TX, some becoming life long friends. One of the service men became a son-in-law in 1961 and as a result, the whole family moved to MN in 1963.

Lucille served as a Red Cross Army Nurse, worked in a health food store, at the Mankato Clinic, and was a natural in home health care. As a couple, she and Henry had a gift of encouragement and would visit shut-ins, nurturing their spirits by singing and reading scriptures.

She could take cotton feed sacks or satin, sequins, lace and pearls and creatively turn them into a work of art, for clothing for her children including Carolyns wedding dress. She loved community quilting bees, producing many quilts for family and missions.

Her well-worn Bibles are family treasures, marked and underlined with pages scarcely held together. Psalms 103 and 139 were favorites. Her children memorized many whole chapters of scripture while peeling peaches or shelling peas.

Lucille was a very committed wife for 64 years, and a loving mother and grandmother. She is survived by her husband; Henry Meissner of rural Good Thunder; five children and their spouses, Carolyn and Gerhard Matzke of rural Good Thunder; Margaret and Loren Matzke of rural Good Thunder, Dr. Laurence and Yvonne Meissner of Hutto, TX, Dennis and Joanne Meissner of Georgetown, TX, Annette and Byron Rode of rural Lake Crystal; 21 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; two sisters Betty Jean (Wesley) Morris of Temple, TX, Gloria (Rocco) Kesslar of Jacksonville, FL; brother, Weldon (Donna) Schneider of Copperas Cove, TX; nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceded in death by parents, granddaughter, sister and a brother.