Garth Meiser

Garth Richard Meiser
POCATELLO - Garth Richard Meiser, 67, Pocatello, our beloved husband, father and grandfather left us Wednesday, April 29, 2009, for a better place.
He was born September 23, 1941, in Jerome to Kenneth D. Sr. and Dorothy May Meiser. He attended school at Washington Elementary and high school in Twin Falls, Idaho.
He spent many summers as a child and a young man working with his grandfather on his farm. Garth joined the Air Force in 1958 and was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, Germany and Mississippi where he was in the military police, a drill sergeant and photographer.
After serving 12 years of active duty he moved to Omaha, Neb., where he worked as a road patrol deputy in the Sheriff's department for Douglas County.  During this time he was also police escort and a detective in criminalistics. 
One evening in April 1977 during a motorist assist he met the soon to be love of his life, Kay Bradbury, and they were joined in marriage in July 1977.
While in Omaha he also enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and worked in the medical field. 
In 1984 on a visit to see his grandfather, William Meiser, in Halfway, Oregon, he decided to leave Omaha and move closer to Idaho at which time they settled in Salt Lake City. In Salt Lake City, Garth started work with the sheriff's department as a jail officer for Salt Lake County. After leaving that position he was a detective for the South Salt Lake Police Department. He also was a member of the Utah National Guard. On Valentine's Day of 1990, they were introduced to their soon to be adopted daughter, Heather Marie. Kay was transferred to Pocatello with her job at Union Pacific Railroad and brought Heather Marie with her. Garth followed in 1992.
At first it was hard to find a job in law enforcement, so Garth worked as a car salesman for Glen's Chevrolet until 1993 when the Pocatello Women's Correctional Center opened. Garth was one of the first employees hired for the new facility.  While at PWCC he started out as a Correctional Officer and then became a lieutenant retiring from that position in 2003.
He also retired from the military in 2003.
Garth had some firsts in his life. He had the distinction of being the only baby born in the Jerome, Idaho, fire house. While he was stationed in Biloxi, Miss., he was the first photographer to take pictures of the destruction from hurricane Camile.
Not only did he have a love for the military, airplanes, weapons, traveling, hunting and fishing, he loved camping with Kay and his beloved grandsons. 
Garth was past president of SASS (Single Action Shooters Society) which he thoroughly enjoyed and was able to attend several shootouts before his illness. 
Garth is survived by his wife Kay, daughter, Heather (Blake) Hansen, Idaho Falls, Idaho; grandsons, Trevor and Garrett Meiser, step granddaughter, Ashley Hansen; father, Kenneth Meiser, Sr., Jerome, Idaho; sisters-in-law Faith (Bill) Stierwalt and Ila (Vincent) Ehlers, Beatrice, Neb.; brothers, Kenneth Jr. (Shirley) Meiser, Pleasantville, Utah, and Mike (Cindy) Meiser, Kerns, Utah. He was preceded in death by his beloved grandfather, William W. Meiser and mother, Dorothy Meiser.
Memorial services will be held May 8 at 2 p.m. in the Cornelison Funeral Chapel, 431 North 15th Ave., Pocatello. The family will receive friends on hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Cremation has been completed. 
Memorials may be given in Garth's memory to the Idaho State Veterans Home, 1957 Alvin Ricken Drive, Pocatello, Idaho 83201. Online guest book and condolences available at www.cornelisonfh.com.