Visitation for Roberta Darlene Meinecke, 92, of Panora will be held from 1-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22 at the Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson, with family present from 4-7 p.m. Funeral Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 at the United Methodist Church in Jefferson followed by burial at the Franklin Township Cemetery in Cooper and a luncheon at the Jamaica Community Center.
Roberta died Feb. 17, 2022, at the Lakeside Village in Panora, Iowa.
Roberta Darlene Meinecke, daughter of Carl Elmer Mauritz Lind and Emma Elizabeth Johnson Lind, was born June 9, 1929, at home in Pilot Mound, Iowa.
Roberta was very active in school. She played basketball, sang in the choir and had a role in the school plays.
Roberta graduated as valedictorian from Pilot Mound High School in 1946 and then went on to Drake University, where she received her Teaching Certificate.
She started working at the country school just south of Ogden and then at Pilot Mound.
Roberta moved to Des Moines, where she worked in the office of Standard Oil Co.
She met the love of her life, George Meinecke Jr., and the two were united in marriage on March 4, 1956, at the United Methodist Church in Pilot Mound. They lived in Cooper before moving to Jefferson in 1993.
After raising her children, in the early 1980s Roberta decided to find a new line of work and became a Postmaster for the U.S. Post Office. She started at the Cooper Post Office and later transferred to the Dana Post Office.
She enjoyed collecting Pfaltzgraff Yorktowne dishes, roller skating, playing bridge and volunteering to help at funeral lunches.
Roberta sang and played the piano for the United Methodist Church in Cooper for 46 years.
She played on a women’s basketball team in Cooper in the 1970s.
Roberta was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Club, United Methodist Church and the Bridge Club.
She deeply cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with her family and friends, especially going out to eat and attending Daniel O’Donnell concerts.
Roberta was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Emma Lind; husband, George in 2003; son, Hal in 2021; grandsons, Mark Johnston and Adam Meinecke; twin brother, Robert (Helen Marie) Lind; and sister, Verle (Darrel) Johnson.
She is survived by her children, Chris (Vicki) Meinecke of Maquoketa, Robert (Sheri) Meinecke of Panora, George (Michelle) Meinecke III of Cummin, Nancy (Dennis) Johnston of Jamaica and Trudy (Chris) Hastings of Panora; daughter-in-law, Diane Meinecke of Jamaica; grandchildren, H. D. (Monica McDowell) Meinecke, Amy (Aaron) Guiter, Abby (Todd) Smithson, Tracie (Pat) Prince, Tim (Kara) Heard, Danielle (Mike) Kenworthy, Craig Johnston, Steven (Stephanie) Johnston, Ryan (Debby) Johnston, Heather (Brandon) Starr, Ryan (Sue) Meinecke, Michael (Kate) Meinecke, Keenan (Megan) Meinecke, Sara (Taylor) Burkhardt, Conner Meinecke, Kevin Meinecke, Katie Meinecke, Kelsey (Franky) Lo and Anna Hastings (fiancé Zach Olmscheid); 38 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces; nephews; other relatives; and friends.
Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson is in charge of arrangements.
