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Iron Mountain-Richard E. “Dick” Meinecke, 82, of Florence, Wis., passed away Monday, September 25, 2017, at his home.

He was born August 29, 1935, in Iron Mountain, Mich., son of the late Earl Meinecke and Isabel Cousineau-Richer. Dick graduated from Kingsford High School, Class of 1953. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, from 1954 until 1956, and was stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, where he was a colonel’s driver. On December 27, 1954, Dick was united in marriage to Elaine Constantini, they would have celebrated their 63 year wedding anniversary this year.

He was a member of the American Martyrs Church and the Northland Beagle Club for many years. Dick loved beagles and had run many field trials, winning several international championships and club champions. He enjoyed hunting rabbits with his dogs and friends during the winter. Dick also made his annual trips to Highmore, South Dakota, to a good friend and army buddy’s ranch to hunt pheasants every fall. Dick’s hobbies also included hunting deer, trout fishing, especially fly fishing, for which he tied his own flys. In his younger days, he liked to trap beaver, coyote, muskrat, and mink. Even though he enjoyed many outdoor activities, his beagles were always number one. Dick and Elaine enjoyed wintering in Florida for many years and traveling. He always wanted to build a log home, and in 1973 he purchased and treated the logs that he and his wife would build their home together. Dick got his instructions on how to build his home from an article in an Alaskan magazine. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, having special names for each one.

Dick worked for Wisconsin-Michigan Power Company, now WE Energies, from January of 1957 until November of 1994, starting as a lineman. In 1962, he transferred to the power plant at Peavy Falls and then to Pine River Power Plant in May of 1963 until his retirement in 1994.

Dick is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Elaine; one son, Daniel (Cathi) Meinecke, Deerfield, Wis.; two daughters, Debra Jean (Ronald) Anderson, Florence, Wis. and Carrie (Chris) Champion, Kingsford, Mich.; seven grandchildren, Conrad, Halsey, Lauren, Lucas, Lacy, Colton and Ethan; eleven great-grandchildren, Braden, Ellie, Madden, Tatym, Truth, Promice, Morgan, Monté, Julien, Cami and Mia; eight half brothers and sisters; Cindy Schweppe, Tacoma, Wash., Cheryl (John) Schneider, Mukwonago, Wis., Brian (Stacy) Meinecke, East Troy, Wis., Kay (Ralph) Davis, Genoa City, Wis., Ron (Kathy) Meinecke, Burlington, Wis., Sandy Rozell, Kingsford, Mich., Steve Meinecke, East Troy, Wis. and Dawn; and by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents and grandparents, Dick was preceded in death by a half-sister, Lori, aunts and uncles.

Visitation will be held Friday, September 29, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich. Prayers will be recited at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A Memorial Mass will take place on Friday, at 11:00 a.m. at American Martyrs Catholic Church, Kingsford, Mich. Rev. Fr. Joseph Gouin will officiate. Burial will take place in Dickinson County Memorial Gardens.

The family has asked that donations may be made to the Almost Home Animal Shelter, Quinnesec, Mich. or the Alzheimer’s Association in Dick’s memory.

The family would like to thank the Home Base Primary Care team at the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center for the care, compassion, promptness, and support they gave to the family these past five years and to the Arms of Angels caregivers, Hedy and Louanne, for their loving care and compassion.

You may light a candle in remembrance of Dick or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, to honor Dick’s legacy of life.