Ok, so another story about our Grand Canyon trip. One of the guides asked if there were any "excellent swimmers" in the group who were also "at least a little adventuresome. " Skip and I were both avid scuba divers so we volunteered. The plan was to hike up to a lake that had a cool waterfall and then to visit something called The Green Room. When we got there the guide explained that we were going to swim to the base of the waterfall, dive down about 4-5 feet and look for the entrance to a small cave. Once we found the entrance, we were going to swim in and keep poking one hand up to the top of the cave, while we swam forward, until we found a hole that we could use to go up into The Green Room, which is located behind the falls. One small detail...the cave we swam into was only about 3 feet in diameter. Once you swim in you HAD to keep going to The Green Room since you could not swim back out. Check out this link from inside The Green Room.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1r4QFXnGEE. Once we are in, he says, "by the way, the most dangerous part of this is that you have to jump out of The Green Room into the falls. When you hit the water, swim like crazy because it is very hard to swim in the bubbles/churning water at the base of the falls. We did it again Skip...crazy!!!

 In the early seventies [1900's that is...ha!], I had the chance to join Skip and Joleen, and several others for a wonderful 12 day trip down the Grand Canyon in rafts.  After a few days, Skip and I  hiked with a guide part way up the rim of the canyon just to get a different/elevated view of the canyon.  Being young and invincible, Skip and I decided it would be a great idea to jump off a cliff into a small lake about 50 feet below. Our guide said that he "THOUGHT he remembered someone else doing this, but wasn't sure." That was good enough for us! As we were descending, Skip yelled, "Carl, you are wearing your  glasses!" Thankfully, he was always good at looking out for others. Of course, we had jumped from such a height that we actually had time to discuss my glasses, which I quickly grabbed off my face and held tight for the trip down. We laughed until our sides hurt after that [mis] adventure. Skip, I know you are looking down on me and laughing right now with this cherished memory.

In the early 70's, We were lucky to have Skip as our girls softball team coach at MOR. Skip knew baseball well and we all were better hitters with his instructions. Over the years we became good friends with Skip and Joleen. Including sharing our river trip down the Grand Canyon. Skip touched a lot of people and will be missed by many. Love, hugs and prayers, Vince and Lynn


I feel very fortunate to have called Skip my friend.  He was part of the MHSD group whom we would meet up with at the Welland Canal.     I first met Skip during the late 1980s, when Bill Luke, Wayne Garrett, Karl Kuttruff and many others would meet up for many gatherings there.  Skip was one of the nicest people one could ever meet,  sharing his photographic talents and knowledge to anyone interested.  The Great Lakes marine community will miss him greatly.  His ship interests and knowledge will live on via his articles published in The Historian and through his photographs.

3 Long and 2 Short
Jason
        

I worked with Skip in producing publications for the Marine Historical Society of Detroit. He was the king of research and I think he had every historic photo ever made right at his fingertips. He'd say something like "the good news is I have the story done but the bad news is it will take up four issues." He was apologizing for the length, but I was delighted! In one instance, he did such a fine job of recounting the history of one shipping company (over several issues) that the president of the company requested several copies and said there were details included that even he didn't know. Ahoy and Farewell Skip!

Joleen,  We are so sorry to hear about Skip passing. We send prayers and hugs to you and your children.  
When we think of Skip, we think of being on the water. The many times we would meet out at one of the islands with old friends. 
Heaven received another angel. 
RIP Skip

With sincere sympathy.
The Peraino family,
Arlene, Gina, Ann, Norman and family.♥

It's hard to settle on just one memory when thinking of Skip. I'd rather think about the many memories, the great times we had. Those would include the many boating trips  we took to get just the right freighter shot, playing volleyball out at Seaway Island, watching the 1984 Tigers win the World Series, and Skip taking the guys out tubing behind his boat. More than the many great times we had, I'll miss Skip the person. The perfect gentleman, strong of character, smart, someone you could always count on. I'll always consider Skip a great friend of mine, like a brother. I miss him already.

I met Skip in Kindergarten.  Though geography has kept us apart for much of our adult lives I always considered him my best friend...in the world.  We lived together, drowned worms together,  and floated rivers together from the time we were allowed on the lake without life jackets. I'm snowed in in Reno..fights cancelled and won't be there in person, only in spirit.  But as I shoveled my drive for the 3rd time this morning, I remembered how Skip and I, and maybe Pete, or Ned, or Nordley would walk his neighborhood after a snow storm and offer to shovel driveways and sidewalks for $5.  We used to play hockey on the creek at Brookside and the lake behind my house.  Excellent athlete that he was, he always played goalie in boots cuz he didn't skate that well.   I miss him, I will always miss him, and regret not getting back one more time to see him and Jolene.  But I'm bolstered by the quote, "To live in the hearts of those we leave behind, is never to die".

Ahoy and Farewell My friend, may you find fair winds and safe harbors.

What can I say?  Skip is one of the best friends anyone could ask for.  The Meier’s are family not just friends.  So many wonderful memories in the past 40 years, it’s hard to pick just a few.  Both Skip and Joleen have been there during the good and bad times and always supportive.
Our first introduction was through my dad on Christmas morning at champagne brunch.  Before Emil and I got married we couldn’t resist one of Brandy’s puppies.  We became a family through our dogs (all 4 of them).  We took them everywhere even Christmas tree shopping.
It was a lot of fun to have them as neighbors.  We did a lot together from boating, playing on ice in front of house, vacationing up north, and making lots and lots of sand bags!
I can say with certainty that Skip will be missed by all but definitely not forgotten!
I love this saying and it is very helpful to me … Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow, but remember me in every tomorrow.  Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles, I’ve only gone to rest a little while.  Although my leaving causes pain and grief, my going has eased my hurt and given me relief.  So dry your eyes and remember me, not as I am now, but as I used to be.  Because, I will remember you all and look on with a smile.  Understand, in your hearts, I’ve only gone to rest a little while.  As long as I have the love of each of you, I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.



R.I.P. Skip from another guy who loves the freighters and the Lakes.

I first met Skip when Kelsey was in kindergarten.  He introduced himself to me because he knew I would be having Kelsey as a student in first grade.  As it turned out, I was fortunate to have had Kelsey as a student for 4 years.  I know Skip as a father dedicated to the education of his children and devoted to his family.  Skip ran Ardmore's Presidential Fitness Program throughout Kelsey's career at Ardmore and, with his leadership, Science Olympiad had a very successful tenure.  Skip was a friend and a mentor.  I am so grateful that I was able to have had a wonderful dinner with Joleen and Kelsey back in June.  Cancer is a hideous disease that takes some of our best people way too soon.

I did not know Skip all that well.  He would ask me for information about Great Lake boats and was always polite and thankful.  He was fun to talk to  and we met once in Port Huron, MI. and we had a great converdation, just like he knew me for years.  When he told me of his sons upcoming athletic event in regards to helping charity, I signed on as a pledge to offer support.  I was pleased to hear that he was successful.  I will miss his wisdon, knowledge and writing of the Great Lakes.  I wish I had gotten to know him more.  My very sincere condolences.

We have loved Skip's company at our family gatherings:  smiles, hugs, warm welcomes, great stories, incredible knowledge about just about anything, love of freighters and the Great Lakes, and so much more.

Skip was a wonderful father and a wonderful person, kind and generous to a fault.

We will miss him.

All our love to you Scott, Kelsey, and Joleen.  You are family, now and always.

John and Chris

Skip was a great friend to me at Cranbrook and Denison.  I spent many weekend nights at his home during High school.  We were not exactly model teenagers.  One wintry night we snuck out in his Mom's Cadillac during a snow storm.  Neither of us were 16 yet. Skip was driving and we found an empty parking lot with 6 inches of snow  on the  ground. He proceeded to put the car in a spin and he spun it 6 times before we ended up in a snow bank. We walked over a mile back home,  went to bed and fessed up in the morning. Mom was not happy. 
May you be in a place of light and love, of joy and wonder Skip. I am so grateful to have known you. Ned 

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Louis Francis Meier IV

1 août 1950 – 8 mars 2018

Kaul Funeral Home

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