David Meixner
David Meixner departed this life March 1, a month before his 100th birthday. He passed away in his home in Sun City Center, Florida. He was predeceased by his wife of 81 years, Gretchen Mertens Meixner, and surrounded during the last months of his life by all six of his children, John, 81, of Venice, Fla; Steven, 77, of Easton, Md; Toni, 73 of Crossville, Tenn.; Carl, 70, of Fairview Village, Penn; Nancy Sue, 69, of Sun City Center, Fla; and Remya Ann, 64, of Camp Hill, Penn. He is further survived by 10 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
Dave and Gretchen were also adopted as parents by foreign exchange students who resided in their home; Barbara Holler from Austria, Soren Rasmusen from Denmark, Hans Eckman from Sweden and Gunnar Kohlin from Sweden. They all kept lifelong relationships with the Meixner family and are considered siblings.
Dave was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He was a student at Pennsylvania State University on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The following year, he eloped and married Gretchen, enlisted in the Army Air Corps cadet program, received a commission as a 2nd lieutenant, trained as a navigator and was assigned to a B-24 aircrew in the 7th Air Force, became a father and was sent into combat over the south Pacific Ocean. He flew on 35 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor during combat. After the war, Capt. Meixner was released from extended active duty and twelve years later was discharged from the Air National Guard.
After the war, he returned to Philadelphia and worked as a construction superintendent and estimator for Robert E. Lamb and Sons. In 1953, he joined his father’s land surveying business in Collegeville, PA. While working full-time, he self-schooled in civil engineering and earned licenses for professional practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, operating as Meixner Engineers and Surveyors.
After retiring in 1988, he sold the business to his oldest daughter and bought a home in Sun City Center, where he lived with Gretchen until her passing in 2022.
Throughout his life, Dave was committed to community service. Among his many generous contributions of time, he served as a scoutmaster, an elected school board member, director of Rotary International’s Student Exchange Program, SCC Community Association president and volunteer for the Sun City Center Security Patrol and Emergency Squad.
He lived a full and active life well into his 90s, surrounded by a loving family and the gratitude of a large, respectful community. He will be missed.
Dave’s celebration of life will be held in his home, 1005 Augusta Drive, Sun City Center, on his birthday, April 12, from 1-4 p.m., which will be presided over by the Rev. Denise Madigan. He requested in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the All Paths to God Church in Sun City Center.
Dave and Gretchen were also adopted as parents by foreign exchange students who resided in their home; Barbara Holler from Austria, Soren Rasmusen from Denmark, Hans Eckman from Sweden and Gunnar Kohlin from Sweden. They all kept lifelong relationships with the Meixner family and are considered siblings.
Dave was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. He was a student at Pennsylvania State University on Dec. 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The following year, he eloped and married Gretchen, enlisted in the Army Air Corps cadet program, received a commission as a 2nd lieutenant, trained as a navigator and was assigned to a B-24 aircrew in the 7th Air Force, became a father and was sent into combat over the south Pacific Ocean. He flew on 35 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor during combat. After the war, Capt. Meixner was released from extended active duty and twelve years later was discharged from the Air National Guard.
After the war, he returned to Philadelphia and worked as a construction superintendent and estimator for Robert E. Lamb and Sons. In 1953, he joined his father’s land surveying business in Collegeville, PA. While working full-time, he self-schooled in civil engineering and earned licenses for professional practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, operating as Meixner Engineers and Surveyors.
After retiring in 1988, he sold the business to his oldest daughter and bought a home in Sun City Center, where he lived with Gretchen until her passing in 2022.
Throughout his life, Dave was committed to community service. Among his many generous contributions of time, he served as a scoutmaster, an elected school board member, director of Rotary International’s Student Exchange Program, SCC Community Association president and volunteer for the Sun City Center Security Patrol and Emergency Squad.
He lived a full and active life well into his 90s, surrounded by a loving family and the gratitude of a large, respectful community. He will be missed.
Dave’s celebration of life will be held in his home, 1005 Augusta Drive, Sun City Center, on his birthday, April 12, from 1-4 p.m., which will be presided over by the Rev. Denise Madigan. He requested in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to the All Paths to God Church in Sun City Center.