Name: Edward E Meisner Date: April 28th, 1923 - March 9th, 2010 Obituary: Edward E. Meisner, 86, of Hickory, passed away March 9, 2010 at the NC Lutheran Home in Hickory, NC. Born on April 28, 1923 in Windsor, CO, he was the son of immigrant German parents, the late Jacob Meisner and Grace Winder Meisner. He grew up in Colorado where his family was engaged in sugar beet farming. Edward was a veteran of the US Navy having served during World War II as a pilot on the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. In his young adult years he was a “golden glove” boxer. He was a longtime Lutheran and attended Unity Lutheran Church in Hickory after moving from Asheville, NC; where he had lived for over 30 years. Edward retired as a parts distribution manager for International Harvester Company in Charlotte, NC, and Western Carolina Tractor Company in Asheville, NC. He enjoyed life and had many interests during his active years, including tennis, baseball and golf. Edward’s greatest love was his wife of 64 years, Alice, and their three sons; Bruce, Craig, and Randy. He was a real family man and loved to participate in the lives of his sons. When Bruce was a student at Lenoir Rhyne University, you would often see Edward on campus interacting with the frat boys in TKE. In addition to his parents, Edward was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Foster, and two brothers; Lester Meisner and Jack Meisner. He is survived by his wife, Alice Rutz Meisner; sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Libby Meisner of Hickory, NC, Craig and Sharlene Meisner of Cambodia, and Randy and Cathy Meisner of St. Louis, MO; sister, Elsie Deines of Denver, CO; grandchildren, Kristen Sweeney and husband, Drew, Todd Gentry, Crystal Muegge and husband, Jared, Luke Meisner and wife, Toolsi, Nathan Meisner, Jason Meisner, and Christine Meisner, and great-grandchildren; Meghan, Ally, Lindsey, Josh, and Kavi. A service of remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at Unity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ken Tonnesen officiating. A graveside service with military rites will be held at 2:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Enka, NC. The family will receive friends Wednesday evening, March 10, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Drum Funeral Home in Hickory. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Unity Lutheran Church, 3025 Falling Creek Rd. NE, Hickory, NC, 28601, or the NC Lutheran Home, 1265 21st Street, NE, Hickory, NC 28601. Memorials: Unity Lutheran Church, 3025 Falling Creek Rd., NE, Hickory, NC 28601, or NC Lutheran Home, 1265 21st Street, NE, Hickory, NC 28601 Visitations: 5:30PM to 7:30PM on Wednesday, March 10th, 2010 Services: 11:00AM at Unity Lutheran Church on Thursday, March 11th, 2010 (map/driving directions) Cemetery: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Enka-Candler, NC 1498 Sand Hill Road Candler, NC 28715 (map/driving directions)