Brian J. Meginnes

Brian Joseph Meginnes, age 72, of Peoria, transitioned to heaven on June 6, 2025, after a four-year battle with cancer. Born on April 17, 1953, he is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Jane, children Maria Maras (Jason), Laura Meginnes, and Joe Meginnes (Amy), six grandchildren – Eleanor, Violet, Rosalind, Luke, Ethan, and Tessa – and his brother, Tim (Judy). He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Lil, and his brother, Mike.
Brian and Jane built a life full of love and concern for others, highlighted by their love of travel, family games of Liverpool rummy, and too many holiday celebrations to count. Brian was devoted to his children and paved the way for their successes with his advice and support. Friends and family will remember him for his wise counsel, commitment to community service, and strong work ethic, and his conviction in the importance of education and citizenship was evident in both his words and actions. The faith and courage Brian exhibited during his cancer battle was inspiring to everyone around him.
Brian spent his childhood in Roanoke, where he learned to love the outdoors and became an Eagle Scout. His roots were important to him, and he and Jane honored their shared heritage by managing family farms in the area for many years, befriending and partnering with local farmers. Brian also fell in love with reading at an early age. Often reading three books at a time, he built a home library that contained many historical collections as well as classic fiction.
Brian always dreamed big and encouraged his children to do the same. After graduating Roanoke Benson High School in 1971, he spent his summers working at Roanoke Concrete to help pay his way through the University of Notre Dame. During college he spent a year studying in Innsbruck, Austria, making lifelong friends and supplying him with enough stories to fill the ensuing decades. After college, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1978, where he earned membership in the Order of the Coif.
Brian had a distinguished legal career which included his co-founding the law firm of Elias, Meginnes & Seghetti in 1996. He counseled hundreds of clients over the years on corporate and environmental law, supported by his assistant of 42 years, Vicki Parr. Brian's mentorship and dedication caused many of his client relationships to evolve into friendships, and he felt great devotion to the Coulter Family for his career-long work for Peoria Disposal Company and GFL. He even continued to serve clients throughout his cancer journey.
Brian complemented his professional work with passionate service to his community. He served on the Board of Education for Dunlap schools for 16 years, half of that tenure as president. He also served on the boards of W.D Boyce Council, the American Red Cross – Central IL Chapter, the Peoria Building Commission, Business PAC of Central Illinois, and Peoria Promise, the last of which he helped organized and found in 2007. Always a champion of scouting, Brian received the Boy Scouts' Silver Beaver Award as well as the National Eagle Scout Association Outstanding Eagle Scout Award.
A visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. on June 18, 2025, in the chapel at Northwoods Community Church, 10700 N Allen Rd in Peoria. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., June 19, at the church with a visitation from 10 to 10:45 a.m., prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Peoria Promise Foundation at P.O. Box 10226, Peoria, IL 61612.