Col Michael Eugene Meis USAF (Ret.)

Colonel Michael Eugene Meis, USAF (Ret.), passed away on June 9, 2021. He was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1952. In his 68 years of life, Mike felt content and satisfied that his days had been spent dedicated to the USAF, his family, and his friends.

Mike grew up in Tucson, Arizona. He attended high schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Rupert, Idaho, before graduating from Jonesboro High School, Texas. Immediately after graduation, Mike enlisted in the USAF, serving tours at Phan Rang AB, Vietnam and Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. During his enlistment, he completed deployments to Ubon, Thailand, and Ching Chuan Kang, Taiwan. He took a break in service to earn a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, then attended Officer Training School in San Antonio and was commissioned in 1979. He served as a supply operations officer, logistics readiness officer, commanded an ACC supply squadron, a NATO supply squadron, an AEF expeditionary air base support squadron, the ACC Regional Supply Squadron, and the CAF Logistics Support Center. Toward the end of his career, he completed deployments in Istres, France, and Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. Mike served his country for more than 31 years. By the time he retired, Mike had earned two bachelor’s degrees, two master’s degrees, and completed Squadron Officer’s School and Air War College both in correspondence and in residence. His major awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, NATO Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Mike was an athlete, excelling at basketball, football, and track. He also enjoyed time spent outdoors—golfing, camping, hiking, biking, canoeing, and kayaking. Mike loved being a father and husband, and his greatest pride was raising his three sons with his wife, Mary. He found great joy cheering for his sons during their soccer games, basketball games, swim meets, and Taekwondo tournaments. Mike and Mary welcomed and loved their daughters-in-law and cherished every moment they could spend with their grandchildren together.

Military assignments encouraged Mike’s love for travel. He was thankful for the opportunities he had to learn about other cultures, and he appreciated his travels to Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Turkey, England, Ireland, Spain, Luxembourg, Austria, Norway, Korea, Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam. Mike was especially fond of visiting and working in his favorite country, France, and finding time to soak up the sun with Mary and their dear friends on the beaches of Saint Martin. In the USA, Mike called many states home—Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Texas, California, Hawaii, South Dakota, Alabama, and Virginia. He also traveled for work or vacation to Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Florida, Connecticut, Utah, New Mexico, and Washington. He always hoped to visit Maine.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Meis and Beverly Anzalone; his sister, Elizabeth Meis and step-father, J.J. Anzalone. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary Meis; son, Ryan and his wife Sarah; son, Sean and his wife Allysa; son, Brendan; his grandchildren, Aiden, Vera, and Skylee; his sisters, Connie Bird and Mary Anzalone; his brothers, David Meis and Jacob Meis and his wife Stacey; his brother-in-law, Russell Sheffield; and many nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. Mike was loved by many for his kindness, courtesy, dedication, encouragement, and humor. He has now found peace and rest away from the cancer treatments and surgeries that he “soldiered through” in the last five years. He was thankful to the doctors and staff at UT Health San Antonio/MD Anderson, and the nursing staff at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-Medical Center, for helping him have those extra five years with his family and friends.

Celebration of Life

Thursday, July 15, 2021

9:30 AM

Porter Loring Mortuary North

Interment with full military honors, Thursday, July 15, 2021 – 11:00 AM, Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas.

The family has asked in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given to Wounded Warrior Project or BCAN (Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network).