James Allen Meeuwenberg, Sr.

It is with great sadness and heartache that the family of James “Jim” Allen Meeuwenberg , Sr. announces his death on Friday, December 4, 2020 at age 73 at University Medical Center due to post-vascular surgery complications. Jim was born in Fremont, Michigan on December 25, 1946, the eighth of ten children of Marinus J. Meeuwenberg and Jeannette Folkema Meeuwenberg. Jim was raised on a farm and attended elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse. Shortly after graduation from Fremont High School in 1965, he enlisted in the United States Navy. Dutch, as he was called by his Navy buddies, was a decorated veteran extremely proud of his military service, especially that in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967 as a Gunner’s Mate on a patrol boat at 2 duty stations in county. Upon return to the US, Dutch was assigned to duty on the USS Hyman, DD-732, a destroyer decoy docked in New Orleans. It was during this time he met Teresa “Terry” Staub whom he married in 1970. Over the years they lived in New Orleans, Lake Charles and Metairie. He and Terry have one son, James “Jay” A. Meeuwenberg, Jr. Many years after an honorable discharge, Dutch became reacquainted with some unit mates through the Mobile Riverine Force Association. Later he helped friends, Larry and Big Jim, organize the In-Shore Undersea Warfare Group One (IUWG-1) Veterans Organization. As a life member he looked forward to the IUWG-1 reunions, an opportunity to reminisce and exchange sea stories. Jim is a life member of Ed Brauner American Legion Post 307 in New Orleans, a life member of the Southernmost Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3911 in Key West, FL., a member of Together We Served and the USS Hyman Association. After military service Jim attended Ferris State College in Big Rapids, MI, was employed by South Central Bell (later Bellsouth then AT&T) in the New Orleans area, attended Delgado Community College, was employed by Consolidated Aluminum Co. in Lake Charles, returned to Bellsouth, New Orleans from which he retired in 2001. He was a member of Communication Workers of America and the Telephone Pioneers. After retirement he worked part-time for Lagniappe Environmental. Jim was recruited by Bellsouth in the fall of 2005 and for 4 months assisted with post-H. Katrina repairs. Jim was always a dependable and accomplished employee. He was a member of the Krewe of Caesar and a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Church. Jim had many leisure interests over the years, including golf with longtime friend Bill and fishing with longtime friend Ron; bowling, pool and dart leagues; oldies and country music (and the western wear to go with it); old TV westerns, Perry Mason, science and wild life shows and 6:00 PM Jeopardy when he and Terry played as a team matching wits with the TV contestants. Now he can play Jeopardy in heaven with the late great Alex Trebek himself. Above all Jim’s most cherished of life’s moments were teaching a young Jay to bowl, golf, shoot pool and learn his numbers by playing cards. Jim came to look forward to any time he could spend with Jay as adults too. Jim enjoyed traveling (only 13 of 50 states to go) and spending time with Terry in Key West, FL. Jim and Terry were neighborhood regulars at Acme Oyster House. Jim liked to cook, grill, do word puzzles and never missed an opportunity to cheer on the New Orleans Saints, LSU Football Tigers and the Navy Football Midshipmen. Jim was a loving, caring and generous husband and father. Jim is survived by his devoted wife of over 50 years, Terry, his beloved son Jay, dear daughter-in-law Kristina Brown Meeuwenberg and special stepgrandson Joshua M. Brown. Other survivors of his “Louisiana” family are sister-in-law Maureen S. Eide, Pelham AL, her friend Tom Clancy, Hoover AL; brother-in-law Harold P. Staub and his wife Jamie F. Staub, Kenner LA; brothers-in-law Kevin M. Cousins, Metairie LA and B. Joe Graves, Austin KY. Uncle Jim will be sadly missed by Erik and Janet K. Eide, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada; David and Rebecca C. Chapotel, Madisonville LA; Steven and Courtney G. Chapotel, Madisonville LA; and Rachel M. Graves, Austin KY. “Jimbo” will be fondly remembered by his Madisonville grandnephews, Parker, Jacob, Joshua and Benjamin and grandniece Taylor. He was honored to be invited to their school Veterans’ Day celebrations, Grandparents’ Day, Grandparents’ Bingo, book fairs, class performances, athletic competitions, and birthday parties. Jim’s “Michigan” family survivors include his brothers and their wives, Louis and Paula Meeuwenberg and Harlan and Bette Meeuwenberg; sister, Bonnie Sietsema; sisters and their husbands, Sharon and Lewis Blohm, Dawn and Tom Rushing and Colleen and Dan Pero; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Jim was predeceased by “Louisiana” in-laws Harold W. Staub, Jr. and Teresa G.Staub; uncle Philip J. Gaffney, Jr., Ole A. Eide, Peggy S. Chapotel, Joby Chapotel, Harriet “Hattie” S. Cousins, and Jacqueline “Jackie” S. Graves and “Michigan” family members including his parents, sisters and their husbands, Marilyn M. and Jim Hower, Carol M. and Joseph Taylor, Delores M. and Donald White; brothers-in-law Richard Pulaski and John Sietsema and sister-in-law, Dorothy Meeuwenberg, 2 nephews and 1 grandniece.

A private memorial service was officiated by Fr. Andrew Gutierrez of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, December 19, 2020. Inurnment was at Maison de la Paix Mausoleum in Metairie Cemetery. Both the American Legion and the US Navy paid homage to Jim and his military service at the venue.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Jim’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105 or [email protected]; donations to St. Catherine of Siena “Field of Dreams”, 105 Bonnabel Blvd., Metairie LA 70005 or www.scschurch.com/field; or masses for the repose of Jim’s soul.

The family invites you to share fond memories and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com