John McMeekin, 87, Chanute, died Oct. 11, 2012. He was born Dec. 22, 1924 in Chattanooga, Tenn., to John and Winnifred McMeekin. The family moved to Shelby, Neb., where there were relatives. He graduated from North Platte High School. He joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a radioman on a destroyer during the war with Japan. The crew fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa until the ship was struck by a suicide plane Kamikaze.

He returned to Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska, graduating as a civil engineer.

He married Dorothy Maxwell June 5, 1950. He worked for Peter Kiewit Construction Co., then in June 1958 he came to Ash Grove Cement Co., Chanute, as plant manager. He retired in late 1989.

He enjoyed gardening, attending his sons’ sporting events and vacationing in the mountains near Denver. Being with his grandchildren was a special time, too.

For many years he served on the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center Board of Directors. He was a member of the local VFW, the American Legion and the First United Methodist Church.

Survivors are his wife; sons John Jr., Thornton, Colo., Richard “Rick” and Cindy, Shawnee, and Steve and Sue, Evergreen, Colo.; a brother Jim, Omaha, Neb.; sister Janet, Des Moines, Iowa; and grandchildren, Michael, Emily, Steven and Scott.