Edmere Meinke

Edmere Lucile (Bondesen) Meinke of Kewadin, passed away at 94 on December 15, 2014 in Traverse City, MI. She was born in Chicago, IL on June 11th, 1920 to William and Edmere (Feldt) Bondesen. The family lived in Marysville, MI from 1920 until 1927 then moved to Detroit, MI. Edmere graduated from Detroit Northern High School in 1937, completed a Secretarial Training course at Wayne State University in1939 and received a B.A. degree from the University of Michigan in 1944. While in college she met the love of her life Albert Henry Meinke Jr. and they married on July 29th,1944. Edmere was a caseworker for the Children’s Aid Society in Detroit while her husband served overseas during WWII.

In 1946 the couple settled in Eaton Rapids, MI, where Dr. Meinke practiced medicine for 38 years and she enjoyed caring for their home and their four children. She was a member of the Eaton Rapids Hospital Auxiliary, the Tuesday Musicale and the American Association of University Women. Upon retirement in 1984, the couple built a home on Torch Lake in Antrim County, MI. Edmere will be remembered by her family and friends as an epic social networker long before the arrival of the internet and for her many interests including: music, travel, birds and nature, as well as her lively sense of humor, her hospitality and genuine interest in others.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, her sister and brother-in-law Marilyn and Ralph Patterson and oldest son, Albert H. Meinke III, M.D. Surviving are her sons William B. Meinke, M.D., of Warwick, RI; James A. Meinke of Kewadin, MI; daughter Joanna (David) Ballard of Onondaga, MI; daughter-in-law Connie Meinke of Kewadin, MI; eight grandchildren: Samantha (Cody Hinze) Meinke of Eaton Rapids, MI; Abigail (Glen Goodwin) Meinke of Sydney, Australia; Patrick Meinke of Eaton Rapids, MI; Eric (Sue) Meinke of Kalamazoo, MI; Alan (Samantha Brandfon) Meinke of Ann Arbor, MI; Laura (Glenn) Steffens of Pinckney, MI; Jeffrey Ballard of Onondaga, MI; and Meredith Ballard of Belleville,MI; three great-grandchildren: Evan Ballard, Violet Steffens and Fiona Steffens.

A family memorial observance for Edmere will be held at a later date. In gratitude for the excellent care that Edmere received memorial contributions may be made to The Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation, 1000 Pavilions Circle, Traverse City, MI 49684, or to an organization of choice. The family chose Life Story Funeral Home, Traverse City. Please visit the family guest book at www.lifestorynet.com.