Eunis Meester

Eunis Meester, age 92, Willow Lake, widow of Herman Meester, died peacefully on Monday, December 16, 2013 in the Parkview Care Center at Bryant where she had resided since November 19th. Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19, 2013 from 5-7PM at the United Presbyterian Church in Willow Lake and will continue in the Church on Friday morning after 9:30AM. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 20, 2013 at 11AM in the United Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake with The Reverend Dr. Lois Aroian officiating. Burial will follow in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. Music will be provided by JoLayne Symens, Dorothy Fuller, Lisa Bruley and the "Singing Nuns". Honorary casketbearers will be her great-grandchildren with the grandchildren and spouses acting as active casketbearers. She was born Eunis Pommer on a farm northeast of Willow Lake on January 9, 1921, the second born child of Fred and Myrtie (Mennenga) Pommer. Eunis attended the Anderson School near the farm and then Willow Lake School, graduating in 1939. After graduation she went on to the Eastern Normal School at Madison and obtained her teaching certificate. Her first teaching assignment was in the Kindig School near Vienna and then taught at the same Anderson School she had attended as a child, even teaching her sister, Ardis! On another note regarding school, Eunis also has a perfect attendance record in attending the Willow Lake School Alumni gatherings since 1939. During her senior year in high school, Eunis began dating Herm (as she affectingly always called him) Meester. After a long courtship, the two were married on May 29, 1943. Herm was in the Air Force so they lived at Rapid City for the first three months and after he was sent overseas, Eunis returned to Willow Lake where she worked at a local bank. Herm was discharged in 1945 returning to Willow Lake and purchased the Minneapolis Moline contract and started Meester Implement. Eunis was a stay at home mom most of the time although she helped with the books at the Implement Dealership. The couple purchased a home on Garfield Street where she has lived since. In 1973 she and Herm traveled to Europe, a trip she often spoke of fondly. Herm died on Valentine's Day in 1992. Besides staying at home taking care of the children, Eunis was very involved in many community activities, especially her Church home. In the Presbyterian Church she played the organ and piano for over 50 years. Some of her fondest moments were playing for the choir and the fellowship involved. Eunis was also active in the Presbyterian Women's Ladies Aid, the circle groups and has been a member of the Legion Auxiliary for over 60 years. She and Herm could also be found many a nights playing pinochle with friends, a tradition she kept up after his death. She also had been a member of the Sunshine Club. In addition to playing the piano, she enjoyed crossword puzzles, entertaining friends and trying out new recipes. Her love of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will long be remembered, loving it when they called her "Gram". Preceding her in death were her parents, husband Herman, and siblings, Ruth, Kenneth and Ervin Pommer, a brother-in-law, Lloyd Anderson, a nephew, LeRoy Anderson and a niece Patti Pommer. Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Ron (Marleen) Meester and Connie (Bill) Sawinsky all of Webster, SD, a sister, Ardis Anderson of Willow Lake, grandchildren, Lindsey (Logan) Huber, Michael Meester (Dana Gabiga), Mikel (Angie) Seefeldt, Jeff Seefeldt (Lindsy Hein and her children, Britton and Spencer) and Jennie (Clay) Fenenga and her 4 great-grandchildren, Summer and Logan Seefeldt and Derek and Jori Fenenga. A sister-in-law, Donna Pommer of Willow Lake also survives along with nieces and nephews. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com.