Hello Friends of Bob Meisenhelder, We have some sad news to share. Our brother Bob died in his sleep 4 nights ago while on a Caribbean cruise with his wife Rhonda. He was 75.
We find comfort in our knowledge of his strong faith and the love of his family and friends.
He will be missed. Rest in Peace, Bro.
Robert Thaddeus “Bob” Meisenhelder – Obituary
Bob Meisenhelder, a devoted family man and accomplished professional, passed away peacefully at the age of 75 doing what he loved: traveling. He was born in Fernandina Beach, Florida to Edmund Webster Meisenhelder III and Trinidad Macariola Meisenhelder. From an early age, Bob showed exceptional promise, earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout during his high school years, along with the added honor of a Bronze Palm. These values of trustworthiness, dependability, kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, hard work, and reliability defined his character throughout his life.
After graduating from high school at the International School of Bangkok in 1967, Bob furthered his education at Cornell University, where he earned a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering. He later obtained an MBA from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Bob enjoyed a successful career, taking on managerial roles at companies such as Terradyne, LTX, Raytheon, and Analog Devices, where his expertise and dedication were evident.
Bob lived in several places during his early life, including Park Forest, Illinois, Cookeville and Nashville, Tennessee, The Canal Zone, Panama, and Bangkok, Thailand, before settling down in the greater Boston area post college. His heart was always anchored in his family and his Lord Jesus Christ. He was deeply devoted to his loved ones and his church family, ensuring that he never missed a commitment or broke a promise.
A passionate traveler, inspired by living abroad, Bob pursued a lifelong goal of visiting 100 countries, and got to over 90 countries. His adventures not only enriched his life but also inspired those around him, especially through his writing of short stories that he shared with friends and family.
Bob lived the full life of a committed Christian gentleman. He served the church all his life, most recently being chosen with his wife, Rhonda Duray, to join a management team for church sponsoring at the Grace Chapel Foxborough campus. Bob consistently served both at home and abroad in mission work, bringing his own cheerful “can-do” approach to whatever task was needed.
Bob Meisenhelder will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to family, his Lord, the virtues he upheld, and the many lives he touched with his kindness and generosity. He leaves behind a legacy of love, integrity, and inspiration that will endure in the hearts of all who knew him. Bob was preceded in death by his daughter, Melissa. He is survived by his daughter, Jenna Stacy (John), his wife, Rhonda, and her three children, Lynda, Deborah, and Jeffery, as well as his siblings: his sister, Maria, and brothers John and Greg. Bob loved being a grandfather to his grandchildren: James, Lily, David, and Julia.
There will be a private burial on February 11 for his family.
On Friday, February 28 at 10 AM there will be a celebration of life at Grace Chapel Foxborough followed by a light reception. Everyone is welcome.
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Gerald Henri Carl, “Jerry”, age 74, died Friday, May 10, 2024, at his home.
GERALD HENRI CARL was born on August 20, 1949, in Ontario, Oregon, the son of the late William Edgar Carl and Vivian Adelle (McCracken) Carl. He was raised and received his education in Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii, having been a graduate of the Kaneohe High School Class of 1967. He later attended the McEntray College Lebanon, Illinois, having received a bachelor’s degree in business.
He was united in marriage to Marilyn Sue White in Sacramento, California on August 10, 1975, in Sacramento, California. Following their marriage, Jerry was career military, his assignments taking them around the world. In 1995, they moved to the Forest Grove community, where he had resided since.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, on March 20, 2024, in Forest Grove, Oregon, after celebrating over forty-eight years of marriage together.
He joined the United States Army on January 14, 1976. Jerry served for twenty years, until he received his honorable discharge in 1996 at the rank of master sergeant. He received several awards including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Joint Service Commendation Medal (2nd Award); the Army Commendation Medal (3rd Award); the Army Achievement Medal (3rd Award); the Joint Meritorious Unit Award; the Army Good Conduct Medal (6th Award); the National Defense Service Medal and the Noncommissioned Officer’s Professional Development Ribbon.
Jerry was a member of the American Legion Washington Post #2 in Forest Grove.
Among his special interests, he was very active in supporting the Wounded Warriors Project, as well as gentleman farmer, caring for his orchard of apples, pears and cherries.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, William and Vivian Carl and his brother, Sam Carl.
Survivors include his four sons and daughters-in-law, Robby and Huachen Riley, of Carson City, Nevada, Jeff McCormick, of Oahu, Hawaii, William “Billy” Carl of Forest Grove, Oregon and Stuart and Veronica Carl, of Forest Grove, Oregon and his two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Sandi Carl, of West End, North Carolina and Tom and Pam Carl, of Austin, Texas.
Also surviving are his three grandchildren, Ashton Carl, Braden Carl and Addison Carl and several nieces and nephews.
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Judith Evelyn Butcher Friesen – Obituary – Elk City, Oklahoma
Judith Evelyn Friesen was born October 16th, 1949 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Elizabeth Ann (Luellen) and Orby Lee Butcher, Jr. She passed away at her home in Elk City, Oklahoma on Friday, March 29th, 2024 at the age of 74 years, 5 months and 13 days.
Judith, known by most as “Judy”, spent her younger childhood in Oklahoma City and Ft. Worth, Texas. At the age of 11 her father, being a medical missionary, moved to Thailand where she spent the majority of her formative years. She attended school at the International School of Bangkok graduating in June of 1967. Judy returned to the states where she attended Oklahoma Baptist University where she obtained her bachelors degree in nursing. In her father’s clinic she met a gentleman by the name of Dennis Jay Friesen. They were later married at Beaver, Oklahoma on June 5, 1971. Together they made their home in Oklahoma where she worked at Presbyterian Hospital in the Coronary Care Unit where she remained for 3 years. When Dennis began his residency they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1974. They remained in that area until 1977 when they moved to Elk City, Oklahoma where they made their home. Judy was a substitute teacher at Pioneer Schools but for the better part of 20 years she enjoyed caring and teaching numerous children at Rainbow Lane Preschool. After 2013-2014, Judy retired and enjoyed quilting, cooking, reading, and spending time with her Bunco group. She and Dennis also enjoyed traveling to Chama, New Mexico where they were avid glampers and actively worked with the First Baptist Church out there during the summers.
She is preceded by her parents.
Judy is survived by her husband, Dennis, of the home; 3 children, Shelley Franklin and husband, Jeff, Oklahoma City, OK, Allison Curran and husband, Todd, Tulsa, OK, and Nathan Friesen and wife, Amanda, Elk City, OK; 6 grandchildren, Chloe Franklin, Caleb Franklin, Mason Friesen, Luke Friesen, Chelsea Curran, and Brooklyn Curran; 3 brothers, John “Steve” Butcher and wife, Lacreta, and Michael Butcher and wife, Rhonda, Peter Butcher and a host other relatives and friends.
The family suggest memorial donations be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief at BGCO Attn: Disaster Relief, 3800 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or online at www.okdisasterhelp.org.
Lovingly reported by Pam Slutz through Vince Bennett.
Obituary
Lloyd Geoffrey Young MAY 1, 1949 – JANUARY 31, 2019
YOUNG, Lloyd Geoffrey “Geoff” 69, passed away unexpectedly January 31, 2019. Geoff was born May 2, 1949 in Manhattan Beach, California to Stanley Young and Bernice Shupe Young. After growing up in Japan, Kenya, Thailand, and the Philippines, Geoff returned to the United States to attend college at Claremont McKenna College in California and then law school at Levin College of Law at the University of Florida. Geoff practiced law in St. Petersburg and Tampa for over 40 years, building a successful real estate and bank oriented practice. Geoff had a wide range of interests in life, all of which he pursued enthusiastically. Those included a lifelong love of the water, boating, and scuba diving. Geoff’s love of scuba diving in Mexico led him to cenote diving in the cave systems of the Yucatan peninsula. There, he befriended Guillermo “Memo” de Anda, a professor of underwater archeology. This friendship led Geoff to participate in and underwrite, with funds and equipment, explorative expeditions that led to valuable discoveries and preservation of ancient Mayan civilization. Friends will remember Geoff for his intense loyalty, his exuberance for life, his wit (often expressed through incisive cartoon drawings), his love of fine wine, and his appreciation of beauty, exemplified in his wife, Melisa, his constant partner in the water, on the tennis court, and at the drawing table, where together they designed their dream home on St. Pete
Beach. With his passing, the world lost a vastly unique, generous, kind, and caring person. He will be missed beyond words. Geoff is survived by his loving wife, Melisa Ann French; his daughter, Alisa Heedy (David); his stepson, David; his brother, Jordan; Jordan’s wife, Bettie; and their three children, Jordan Keith, Shea, and Troy; and his half-brother, Wayne. The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life for Geoff Saturday, February 23, 2019, 1-4 pm, at the TradeWinds Resort, 5500 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL 33706. Anyone wishing to remember Geoff with a donation may make one in his name to the SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave. N., Largo, FL 33773. Arrangements by Beach Memorial Chapel, St Pete Beach 360-5577. The family requests that attendees dress in beach casual attire. Complimentary free self parking at the TradeWinds Resort. The location of the Life Celebration is at the South Beach Lawn of the TradeWinds Resort. Light hors d’oeuvres and drinks will be provided.
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Duncan’s death happened on December 6, 1971. Duncan Buchanan class of ’67 was a 2nd Lt in the USA when he was killed by an accidental discharge. He was 22. I do not have an obituary for him. I did find the attached information.
If you need anything else please let me know. Thanks for helping us remember.
Vince Bennett ’67
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I wanted for inform the network that my sister, Betsy Hindman, died on Oct. 20th 2022, of a massive stroke and her service will be at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Denton, Texas on Sunday at 2 PM.
She went to ISB her senior year of high school and graduated in 1967.
Much love and Blessings!!
Her little sister, Amy Hindman, Class of 1971
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My brother Paul Soderberg passed away unexpectedly this morning, probably from heart-related issues. So many memories.
This photo, with a broken-winged eagle he saved, is the only one I have of him in Afghanistan when he was working in famine-relief as a Colonel in the Afghan Army. He saved the lives of 30,000 people during the country’s worst famine- shortly before the Russian invasion and occupation. This was in the winter of 1972. The Russians tried to kill him three times.
Paul was an unusual person. He was a Lawrence of Arabia type. He had a scientific mind, and was a Herpetologist at 14 years old (study of snakes,) and was curator of the museum in Bangkok. He and I spent countless weeks trekking through the jungles of northwestern Thailand hunting for rare snakes for the Smithsonian with the Lahu Hill-tribes.
Paul graduated with a degree in Anthropology from ASU in Tempe, Arizona. He was first runner up for the Rhodes Scholarship. He was also an artist, and one of my favorite paintings is one he did of Blue Herons at sunset.
After he returned to America from Afghanistan, he became a published author and worked as a columnist with the Scottsdale Progress. He impacted many thousands of lives, and left us too early. Via con Dios, brother ❤️
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OBITUARY
Jeffrey Alan Niese
APRIL 21, 1950 – APRIL 22, 2020
Jeff Niese, 70, was a kind and gentle man. Jeff was born in Beech Grove, Indiana on April 21, 1950 to William and Carol Niese. He was preceded in death by both parents.
He is survived by one sister, Marilyn Weed and her husband Jim of Universal City, Texas, and niece Anne De le Rosa & husband Edward of San Marcos, Texas and nephew John Wilson & wife Cindy of Odenton, Maryland. Grand nieces Claire and Ellie Wilson and nephew Aiden De la Rosa.
Graveside services are being planned at Sunset Memorial Park, San Antonio, Texas.
Born in Beech Grove, Indiana, Jeff’s youth was spent with his family as his father’s work took them from Indiana to Baltimore Maryland, Tripoli Libya, back to Indiana and then to Vietnam (before the war), then to Bangkok Thailand. Returning to Indiana to finish high school, he graduated from Purdue University at Indianapolis with a degree in engineering.
He worked at IUPUI Bursar Office (Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis) for many years. He also was a founding member of the museum of the 20th Century Warfare. He was an active re-enactor for nearly 40 years with various impressions including the Civil War, WWII and Vietnam. He was known for extensive knowledge of Viet Nam era memorabilia.
Jeff will be missed by his friends at Museum of 20th Century and his family.
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