Kenneth Meeker Jr.

Ken served in the United States Air Force for 10 years as a driver on the flight line. He secured his private pilot’s license at age 19, and enjoyed all things aviation his entire life. Upon leaving the service, Ken married Linda Tenters in West Palm Beach, Florida on June 9, 1968. They ventured back to Adrian, Michigan in 1970, where their children were born and raised. Ken put in 25 years with Uarco as a press operator, and another 8 years working at Provincial House Nursing Home in the activities department. He retired to Chino Valley, Arizona in 2013, and returned to Florida in 2018. After his wife’s passing in 2021, he moved in with family in Phoenix, Arizona.

Ken was a friend to everyone. He lived a life of inclusion from his earliest days, which he credited to his love of science fiction. He was an early adapter of all new technology, bringing home both a VCR and Commodore VIC-20 (whose programs ran on a cassette tape) in 1980. He could often be seen copying pages of code by hand from a computing magazine onto the VIC-20 to create simple computer programs (such as a highly pixilated picture of a dog wagging its tail) for his kids. By 1996 he was already online, and home computing was one of his favorite pastimes.

His quiet, consistent Christian faith sustained him throughout his life. He dedicated many years of volunteering his time where needed in church: Swinging a hammer to help build Hope Lutheran in Adrian, MI, years in the tape ministry, helping the nursery, and annually growing out his beard so he could more accurately portray a Pharisee in the Easter Passion play at Bethany Assembly of God in Adrian. As a husband, he loved his wife unconditionally, adoring his Sweetie for the 52 years they had together. He would often tell stories to his children and grandchildren of his childhood and years in the service with great embellishment and glee, and was loved by all of his five grandchildren.

Ken is survived by his children, daughters Katie (Gregg) Dufort of Phoenix, AZ and Kelly (Karl) Feldkamp of Sandpoint, ID, son James Patterson IV of Tecumseh, MI, granddaughters Abbie Cornelius of Prescott, AZ, Parry Cornelius of Phoenix, AZ and Lizzy Feldkamp of Sandpoint, ID, grandsons Charlton Cornelius of San Diego, CA and Edward Feldkamp of Sandpoint, ID, and his brother John (Sandi) Meeker of Adrian, MI plus many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda, his daughter, Jennifer Meeker, son-in-law, Gary Kreuz, his brother, Fred Meeker and his parents. Interment will take place at the Prescott National Cemetery later this summer.