Joseph “Joe” Meissen, 92, of Wien, MO, passed away on Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital in Columbia, MO.
Joe was born on October 6, 1932, the first son of Anthony (Tony) and Helen (Marek) Meissen. He was a lifelong resident of Wien, MO, and was a member of the St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Wien, MO, where he sang in the choir and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Joe greatly enjoyed his family, playing the harmonica, and sharing family history and stories.
After high school, Joe was drafted into the Army and served during the era of the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he worked for the Santa Fe Railroad, and then Morman’s Feed for a total of five years. While working for the railroad, the opportunity came to buy his paternal grandparents farm down the road from his boyhood home. After moving back to this farm, he started farming with his brother, Paul. Dairy farming was Joe’s Life for almost 49 years.
Joe was united in marriage to Marjorie Kathryn Schreiner on June 1, 1957. He is survived by his eight children; Marilyn (James) Stanley of Auxvasse, MO, Donald (Christina) Meissen of Wien, MO, Charles (Nancy) Meissen of Bethany, MO, Stephen (Connie) Meissen of Wien, MO, Suzie (Mark) Schuchmann of Brunswick, MO, Laura Meissen of Columbia, MO, Julie (Darren) Boss of Shawnee, KS, Diane (Sean) Thoe of Parkville, MO; 18 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren. Joe is also survived by three siblings, Imelda Reigelsberger of Indian Grove, MO, Sr. Lucille Meissen of St. Louis, MO and Greg (Barb) Meissen of Marceline, MO; sister-in-law, Donna Meissen of Kansas City, MO, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Marjorie on December 22, 2013; siblings, Elizabeth Stanley, Paul and Bernard Meissen; brothers-in-law, Tommy Stanley and Wayne Reigelsberger.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 11 am at the St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in Wien, MO. Burial with Full Military Honors will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Wien, MO. Visitation will be Saturday morning from 9 to 10:30 am with a Rosary Service starting at 10:30 am. Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
