Melvin W. Meinert

Born Oct. 1, 1934, in Peoria, Ill., to Walter and Thelma (Jakoby) Meinert, Mel married Marian Griffin on Aug. 11, 1956, at Zion Lutheran Church in Peoria. He is survived by his wife of 57 years; three children, Dori (Larry) McCormick of Alexandria, Va., Danette Snopek of Metamora, Ill., and Mark of Woodridge, Ill.; 10 grandchildren, Nathan (Sara) Allen of Metamora, Ill., Brandon and Trenton Snopek of Metamora, Ill., Lauren Snopek of Peoria, Ill., Alison Meinert of Peoria, Ill., Jasmine, Trevin and Destiny McCormick of Alexandria, Va., Emily and Josh Meinert of Yorkville, Ill.; five great-grandchildren, Arianna, Adreane and Gavyn Snopek of Minonk, Ill., and Berkley and Parker Allen of Metamora, Ill.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Stanley.

Mel grew up in Peoria, attending Harrison Grade School and Roosevelt Junior High. He graduated from Western Military Academy in Alton, Ill., in 1952 and attended Bradley University in Peoria. He worked at his parents’ business, Meinert’s Hardware. From 1957 to 1958, he served as a U.S. Army medic in Waltham, Mass., and the Panama Canal Zone. In 1959, Mel and his wife took over Walt’s Tavern, which had been owned by his parents, operating it for 45 years. They enjoyed the friendship of their many loyal customers. When they retired in 2003, Walt’s Tavern was one of the two oldest pubs in Peoria, having been in operation for 67 years. A photo of the South Side establishment is included in a history of Peoria published by the Peoria Journal Star. Peoria Impressions of 150 years, published in 1995.

Mel was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, the Schiller Masonic Lodge 335, the Scottish Rite, Valley of Peoria, Mohammed Temple Shrine and the Izaak Walton League of America, Peoria chapter. He enjoyed league bowling, Walt’s Tavern-sponsored bus trips to Cardinals-Cubs games, family fishing trips to Minnesota and Sunday dinners with family and friends.

Mel’s family thanks the caring professionals at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, Heddington Oaks and OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home.

The funeral service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church, 1534 S. Easton Ave., Peoria at 11:00 A.M., Monday, November 25 followed by burial at Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia, Ill. Visitation will be Sunday, November 24 from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. Additional visitation will be at Zion Lutheran one hour before the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Zion Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Online condolences may be made through www.davison-fulton.com Memories may be shared at legacy.com.