Harold Albert Colen Meehan 1919 - 1998

MEEHAN, BRUNKE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2014 at 13:24:17

Onawa Sentinel
18 June 1998

Harold Albert Colen Meehan, 79, of Onawa, Iowa, died Friday, June 12, 1998, at Elmwood Care Centre in Onawa where he had lived since September 1, 1997.

Harold was born February 27, 1919, in Chicago, IL, the son of James Edgar and Emma Julie (Brunke) Meehan. From the age of 5 to 14 Harold and his older brother lived in the Lawrence Hall Home for Boys as his parents had divorced. During that era if one-parent home could not be established with the mother at home, the Illinois Courts placed the children elsewhere. When his mother remarried, their home was established; but, sadly, too late.

Harold and Eleanor met at the Warren Avenue Congregational Church in Chicago where they were married on August 16, 1938, 60 years ago this year. Harold had missed so many things in his life that along with their four children he had to have ice skates, a bicycle, and finally a boat. Then the big event - a condo in Pompano Beach, FL. Having nine years of no fun to make up for, he made everything fun. He loved his family, his home and even his typewriter repair and office supply store. He worked very hard but enjoyed it. He lived in the Chicago area all of his life before moving to Onawa in 1981 except for a 2 year period when he managed a branch of the Royal Typewriter Company in Rockford, IL.

While living in Lombard, IL. he was approached by local Court Officials to give employment to a young man who had been in jail many times. He did employ him and with such good results he repeated this practice on several more occasions. Although it is now 20 years later, Harold again heard from two of these men this year.

He was also very involved in town activities, having worked with Boy Scouts, was a DeMolay Dad, and, after the children had left home, he was electe Associate Bethel Guardian of Job's Daughters in Lombard. Soon afterwards he was approached to assume the same position for Wheaton's Job's Daughters, which was about to close for lack of having a Mason taking that responsibility. Harold accepted and joined the ranks of only two other Masons in Illinois. History of Job's Daughters. Harold received his First Degree in Masonry on March 6, 1950, and joined Eastern Star on January 6, 1996. Currently, he was a member of Vesper Lodge #223 A.F. & A.M. and Queen Esther Chapter Order of Eastern Star #222, both of Onawa. He was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Onawa.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor of Onawa; two daughters 3 and their husbands, Mary and James Krelle of Aurora, IL. and Margery Capotosto and Michael Brinales of Bloomingdale, IL; one son and his wife, Harry and Joyce Meehan of Las Vegas, NV; 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; one brother and his wife, James and Fern Meehan of
Glenview, IL; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Virginia; and his daughter, Peggy Beth Meehan in 1986.

A Memorial Service was held at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, June 14, 1998, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Onawa, IA, with Rev. Earle R. Potts officiating. The organist, Mrs. Lynette Mussack played the congregational hymn, "In
My Heart There Rings A Melody".

Interment will be at a later date in Acacia Park Cemetery, Chicago. Arrangements were by Pearson Ed Funeral Home, Onawa, IA.

Memorials may be directed to the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Onawa, IA.