Herman B. Meislahn

1916 - 2009

Mass of Christian Burial for Herman. B. Meislahn, 92, was celebrated by Father Wayne Gubbels on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Audubon. Interment was in the Gray Cemetery at Gray. Honorary casket bearers were Herman's granddaughters and the casket bearers were his grandsons. Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon was in charge of the arrangements.
Herman Bernhardt Meislahn, the son of Bernhardt and Anna Dreher Meislahn, was born Nov. 7, 1916 at his parents' home east of Audubon. On Sept. 28, 2009 at the age of 92 years, 10 months, and 21 days, Herman died peacefully surrounded by family at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center.
Herman was baptized at the Trinity Lutheran Church near Gray, and was later confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning. After attending school in Gray, Herman helped on the family farm and also worked for several neighbors.
On Oct. 11, 1941, he was united in marriage to Irene Stoberl at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning. Five children were born to this union. Herman and Irene farmed in the Gray and Manning area. In 1959 they purchased Herman's grandfather's farm east of Gray and have lived on that Century Farm since 1975. Herman and Irene enjoyed dancing, especially the polka, waltz, and fox trot, along with celebrating several milestone anniversaries together.
Herman was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Audubon and the Gray Community Betterment Corporation. He was a past member of the Gray Fire Department and the Gray School Board where he had served as President.
Preceding him in death were his grandchildren: Jacquelyn Knueven and David Meislahn; his parents, Bernhardt and Anna; Irene's parents; Anton and Clara Stoberl; his brothers and sisters-in-law: Chris and Alice Meislahn; Selma and Francis Bosche; Alvin and Barbara Meislahn; Gertrude Meislahn; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Reuben and Edith Stoberl; Sophia and Irvin Heckenliable; Valeria Dreher; and Leonard Stoberl.
Survivors include his wife Irene Meislahn of Gray; his children: Linda and husband Jerry Koenig of Audubon; Jan and husband Doug Hilsabeck of Gray; Connie and husband Mike Blum of Manning; Jonnie and wife Liesa Meislahn of Gray; Gloria and husband Bob Ewoldt of Manning; his grandchildren: John Knueven Puyallup, Wash; Tracy (Luise) Knueven Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; Theresa (Rod) Miller Olathe, Kan.; Brad (Telia) Knueven Audubon; Kelly Knueven Panora; Angie Koenig and Randy Koenig, both of Audubon; Kristi Koenig Grimes; Tony (Lori) Hilsabeck Walker, Minn; Tonia (Steve) Andersen; Trudy (Eric) Benton; Tricia (Scott) Deist, all of Audubon; Melissa (Ryan) Jacobsen Iowa City; Jason (Marjon) Blum Chicago, Ill; Jeff (Jamie) Blum Omaha, Neb.; Leah (Eric) Welch Ankeny; Steve (Julie) Meislahn Chandler, Ariz.; Scott Meislahn United States Army, stationed near Baghdad, Iraq; Shawn, Jacob, and Joe Ewoldt, all of Manning; his great-grandchildren: Dylan and Amber Knueven Puyallup, Wash.; Caleb, Christine and Chase Knueven Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; Rachael, Jarrod and Alyssa Miller Olathe, Kan.; Ryver and Gianna Knueven Audubon; Kyle Knueven Panora; Damien Schloesser and Kylee Koenig Audubon; Makayla Stevens Grimes; Sarah Nelson Slater; Estee Hilsabeck Walker, Minn.; Chenice and Brooke Andersen Audubon; Brandon and McKenzie Bruch Templeton; Kelly and Joni Benton Audubon; Megan, Wyatt, and Dustin Deist Audubon; Aidan, Jocelyn, and Logan Jacobsen Iowa City; Grant and McKenna Welch; Ankeny; Kinley Meislahn, Chandler, Ariz.; and Colten Ewoldt Schleswig; two great-great-grandchildren; his sisters: Evelyn and husband Richard Morrell of Ocala, Fla.; Leona and Gene Rohe of Manning; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Louis Dreher; Margaret Stoberl, both of Audubon; Lyle and Mary Stoberl of Stuart; Norbert and Virginia Stoberl of Manning; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.