Ivan Dale Meints, 81, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023.
Funeral Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, November 13 at the Clear Lake Evangelical Free Church, 1310 US-18, Clear Lake with Rev. Chris McComic officiating. Burial will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery.
Visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, November 12 at Ward Van-Slyke Colonial Chapel, 310 1st Ave. North, Clear Lake, Iowa. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.
Ivan was born on July 22, 1942 to Abner and Edna (Steenblock) Meints and was raised on the family farm outside of Thornton, Iowa. He completed his education at Thornton High School and Mason City Junior College, and in the course of his life, he found his greatest love, Patty Graham. They married on December 7, 1963, a love story that has now spanned over 60 years. Together, they welcomed four children: Wendy, Tammy, Steve, and Dave. Ivan was so proud of each of his children and his eleven beloved grandchildren.
Ivan farmed outside of Thornton, Iowa for over 50 years. He enjoyed farming with his neighbor and friend Bob Ristau. He appreciated nature, loved tending the property, and was in his element working the land. After retiring, Ivan enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and pumpkin patch, tinkering in his workshop and collecting brass horses, pocket knives and toy tractors. One of his favorite pastimes was joining his fellow farmers for coffee at the Thornton Co-op each morning. Ivan was a thoughtful, curious and gentle man and had a passion for writing poetry. He found joy in laughter, the tunes of country music, and the action-packed stories of Westerns on TV. His true happiness, though, was simply being by Patty’s side, whether they were sitting by the sea wall in Clear Lake, attending church, or just savoring the moments on their front porch.
Ivan is survived by his wife Patricia (Graham) Meints; his four children, Wendy (Alan) Lunning, Tammy (Scott) Berry, Steven Meints and David (Gretchen) Meints; eleven grandchildren: Michael Lunning, Nicholas Berry, Lindsay Berry, Jennifer Lunning, Benjamin Berry, Cooper Berry, Zevan Gustafson, Sarah Lunning, Hannah Lunning, Izak Gustafson and Gannon Meints; sisters, Ethel McLaughlin and Carolyn Wood; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ivan is preceded in death by his mother Edna (Steenblock) Meints, father Abner Meints, brothers-in-law Loras (Pete) McLaughlin, Kenneth Wood and Richard Graham, and nephew Kyle McLaughlin.
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