Obituary
Peter Meekma Jr. died July 19, 2018 at his home in Apopka, Florida. He was born March 19, 1933 in Racine, Wisconsin, the son of Peter (Sr) and Mabel Harriet (Henke) Meekma.
Peter graduated from Wisconsin Academy, class of 1951. Following graduation, he served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. After the war he continued serving in the Air Force reserve until 1960. He married Kathleen Holahan in Waukegan, Illinois in 1962. Throughout most of the 1960’s he worked in research for Abbott Laboratories earning certification as a Chemical Technician in 1963. He and Kathleen operated a small family farm near Crystal Lake, Wisconsin where they raised sheep, goats, cows, horses, and children. In 1970 he and Kathleen moved their family to Mountain Home, Arkansas where he worked as a school bus driver while building a small engine repair business and continuing to operate a small family farm. He co-owned Remington Ranch small engine repair until 1976 when he was forced to sell due to health issues. He became a stay at home dad and continued to operate the farm while also continuing to do ad hoc work for subsequent owners of Remington Ranch. He was an Elder in the Mountain Home Seventh-day Adventist Church instrumental in the construction and operation of the church’s elementary school. He and Kathleen were also leaders and avid supporters of the church’s Community Services operation working with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA). He was a Master Guide in Pathfinders, a youth club operated by the Seventh-day Adventist church. In 2016, declining health forced them to move to Apopka, Florida to be close to family members. He became a member of the Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, and while he was physically unable to participate, he remained an avid supporter of Community Services, and Children’s Ministries.
Peter was preceded in death by his parents, one sister; Jenina Meekma, two brothers; Kenneth Meekma and Ronald Meekma, and one grandchild; Joshua Meekma. He is survived by His wife, Kathleen, four sons; Peter Meekma III (Freda), Robert “Brian” Meekma, Kevin Meekma (Yolanda), Stephen Meekma (Jani), one brother; Glen Meekma, two sisters; Judy Pervis and Linda Banfe, 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Visitation will be held at Baldwin Brothers Funeral Home in Apopka, Florida Friday, August 3 from 6-8 pm.
Celebration of Life service will be held August 4, 2018, 4pm at the Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church. The service will be livestreamed for those who are unable to attend in person at: http://forestlakechurch.churchonline.org/
In Leu of flowers, donations may be made to:
Mountain Home Seventh-day Adventist Church School
3744 Hwy 62 West
Mountain Home, Arkansas, 72653
Or to:
Forest Lake Church Building Boldly for Jesus fund
c/o Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church
515 Harley Lester Ln
Apopka, FL 32703
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