Eugene Leo “Chick “ Meade

MEADE, MAHER, SOUTH, LENZ, MCDONALD, ERICKSON, CARROLL, PEDERSEN, SAWIN, SLEICHTER, KESERIC, YEGGY

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 8/22/2012 at 11:34:34

Eugene Leo “Chick “ Meade, age 84, passed away on August 17, 2012 surrounded by his children.

An Irishman through and through, Chick cherished his Irish heritage and his ancestral roots in the farming communities of Cosgrove, Morse and Nolan Settlement. Chick loved the people and families of Johnson County and within minutes of meeting a new friend, he would determine how he was related to them. He was a proud and loyal Hawkeye fan and never missed a home game. To Chick, “Irish-Catholic-Democrat” was all one word and it, along with his Irish humor was his essence.

Born October 28, 1927 in the southeast upstairs bedroom of the home place in Cosgrove, Iowa, Chick was the son of Leo Francis and Catherine Irene (Maher) Meade and was the oldest of 4 siblings. He attended the Cosgrove School where he graduated in a class of six in 1945.

Enrolled at the University of Iowa, Chick drove a model A to attend classes his first semester. In January of 1946 he was drafted into the US Army and served as a platoon leader in charge of basic training at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Returning to the University of Iowa as a business major, he was a proud and active member of the ATO fraternity where he made lifelong friends and memories.

While at the University of Iowa, he met his match in Patricia Ann South of Perry, Iowa. On February 15, 1950 they were married at St Thomas More Catholic Church, raised 5 children and shared 50 years of life together.

Chick operated his family farm from 1950 to 1955. In 1955 he co-founded Me-Jon, Inc., a liquid fertilizer manufacturer and distributor, and served as its President and CEO. By 1965, Me-Jon had eight manufacturing and distribution centers throughout Iowa and was purchased by Terra Chemical, a subsidiary of Standard Oil. During this period, Chick was also the Vice President of the National Fertilizer Solutions Association and served on their board of directors.

Chick, Pat and family moved to his current residence on Dubuque St, Iowa City in December of 1963 where he started and managed Iowa Land Corporation, a farmland and residential Real Estate company. Additionally, he started several real estate investment companies. Chick was named Iowa Farm and Land Broker of the year in 1984 and was a Former President of the Iowa Farm and Land Brokers Association.

Chick continued to invest in and manage farmland throughout his life as well as having a lifelong love of raising and showing black angus cattle and quarter horses. Chick was also a founder of the National Murray Grey Cattle Assoc. and on the board of directors for the Johnson County American Heart Association.

Chick was a longstanding member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

Barbara Strang has been Chick’s companion and constant friend. She, along with Bob Hesseltine, Jennie Aaberg, and Soo (Terry) Yu were Chick’s support and extended family in these recent years. Their care, love and support
will always be treasured.

Preceded in death by his wife, Patricia (Pat) Ann South Meade;
sister, Marilyn (Bede) Lenz; and brother, Lawrence (Joe) Meade.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Dolores (Lolly) McDonald and his 5 children;
Gary Meade, Camela Meade, Debra (Tom) Erickson, Dan (Chris) Meade, Justin Meade (fiancé, Letty Carroll); his twelve grandchildren, Tanner Meade, Molly (Josh) Pedersen, Katie (Chris) Sawin, Travis (Staci) Meade, Garett (Tracy) Sleichter, Ryan Sleichter, Caitlin (Peter) Keseric, Chase, Cole, and Luke Erickson, David and Jesse Meade, and five great-grandchildren; Skylar Yeggy and Caleb Pedersen, Sienna and William Sleichter and Brynlee Sawin.