Gordon Dale Meester, age 94, of Ivanhoe, MN, passed away Saturday, July 11, 2026 at the Hendricks Nursing Home in Hendricks, MN. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at the United Methodist Church in Lake Benton, MN. Burial will be in the Ivanhoe City Cemetery, Ivanhoe, MN. Visitation will be Monday, July 20th from 5 – 7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. Prayer Service at the Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks, MN and will resume Tuesday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Hendricks, MN entrusted with the arrangements.
Gordon Dale Meester was born June 7, 1932 to Frank and Gertrude (Hinrichs) Meester in Ellsworth, Minnesota. He was raised in Ellsworth, MN where he received an education. He then enlisted in the United State Navy and served on the USS Pittsburgh and USS Wisconsin during the Korean Conflict from May of 1951 until his honorable discharge in April of 1954. Gordon returned home where he met Elaine Meyer. The couple was united in marriage on July 16, 1955 in Minneapolis, MN. They lived and worked in Minneapolis before moving to Magnolia, MN where they purchased and operated the Magnolia Pool Hall and Café. In 1964, they moved north of Ivanhoe where they owned and operated the Marble Country Store in Marble Township, MN. Later they moved to Ivanhoe where he sold Watkins Products and Schwan’s. In 1966, he began trucking for a road construction company where he worked until 1994. Gordon was a grain and livestock farmer and continued farming until he no longer was able. Gordon entered the Hendricks Nursing Home in Hendricks in 2024 and passed away there on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at the age of 94. He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Lake Benton, MN and formerly of the United Methodist Church in Ivanhoe. He was a member of the VFW #2980 in Ivanhoe and was a past Commander. He also served as the President of the Christian Labor Association Local 78. Gordon enjoyed playing cards, gardening, especially his melon patch, coffee time, making homemade wine, going to auction sales, winning at the casino, talking politics, and hanging with his grandkids.
He is survived by his wife Elaine Meester; five children: Sandra (Leon) Eernisse, Bloomington, IN, Lee (Andrea) Meester, Cokato, MN, Jay (Paulette) Meester, Ivanhoe, MN, Chad (Elizabeth) Meester, Ivanhoe, MN and Christie (Thomas) Tussing, Waverly, MN; grandchildren: Amanda (Jeremy) Sutherland, Madelynn Tussing and Lane Tussing; great-grandchildren: Brodi Southern, Dillon Southern, Tony Sutherland, Ryan Sutherland, Davey Sutherland and Heather Sutherland; two sisters: Connie Wendt, Petersburg, TN and Margaret Odenbrett, Adrian, MN; sister-in-law’s Barb Meester, Judy Meester, and Nan Meester; and many nieces and nephews. Gordon was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Gertrude Meester; daughter, Reda Meester; grandson Andrew Meester, granddaughter Erica (Eernisse) Southern; and siblings: Elizabeth Grote, Gertrude Williams, Jake Meester, Henry Meester, Doris Kramer, Katherine Flynn, Frank Meester, Jr., Delaine Grenewold, Burdell Meester, Gary Meester, and Dennis Meester.
