Mr. Meirink was a sheet metal worker with Local 268 for 40 years and a member of their Retirees Club. He was a longtime member of St. Peter’s Cathedral Parish, the Holy Name Society at Cathedral, and Knights of Columbus Belleville Council 1028. Al was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and a member of Catholic War Veterans Post 370. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan and the Number 1 fan for Cathedral Grade School.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Lottie F. Meirink, nee Gula, whom he married on July 12, 1952, and who died on June 10, 2007; his parents, Henry and Mary, nee Wirsching, Meirink; five brothers, Walter, Maurice, Robert, Joseph, and Arthur Meirink; two sisters, Sr. Dorothy Meirink and Jane Forness; and a great-granddaughter, Lottie Gehrs.
Surviving are three sons, Alfred P. (Lynn) Meirink of Belleville, IL,
Daniel H. (Linda) Meirink of Swansea, IL,
and Charles A. (Karen) Meirink of Fairview Heights, IL;
a daughter, Susan M. (Greg) Ferguson of Mt. Zion, IL;
seven grandchildren, Nicholas (Melissa) Meirink, Maribeth (Kyle) Bendick,
Melissa (Jacob) Gehrs, Timothy and Julia Meirink,
and Matthew and Mark Ferguson;
three great-grandchildren, Ella Gehrs, Martin Bendick, and Henry Meirink;
two sisters, Elizabeth (Leo) Stauder of Belleville, IL,
and Alice Twenhoefel of Belleville, IL;
a brother-in-law, LeRoy Forness of Belleville, IL;
two sisters-in-law, Mary Kowalski of Granite City, IL,
and Genevieve Gula of Fairview Heights, IL;
and many nieces and nephews.
The Meirink family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Sycamore Village for their exceptional care of Al and also thanks to the nurses and staff at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.
Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Cathedral, to Notre Dame Academy (formerly Cathedral Grade School), or to Sycamore Village. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit with the family from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 12, 2016, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, June 13, 2016, at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Peter’s Cathedral Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. John Myler officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
Condolences Left For Alfred Meirink
We are sorry for your lost.Great memories for a great man.Always had something good to say to someone.Belleville lost their #1 soccer fan!
Rob and Kathy Anderson, Belleville, Illinois, 62226
I’m Activity Director from Sycamore Village and Al was a very special man. He loved to talk Baseball, and he played bingo. You get him talking and he loved to talk. He will be missed by all here at Sycamore rest in peace Al.
Merry Miller, Belleville, Il., 62226
Dan, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Please tell the girls Mr. Rueter says HI.
Wayne Rueter, Nashville, Illinois, 62263
Sue, Al, Danny and Charlie, Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that your wonderful memories of your dad stay with you today and always.
My Best, Jean Morisseau Kuni
Jean Kuni, Columbia, IL, 62236