Lawrence Joseph Meinen

Lawrence J. "Larry" Meinen, 69, of Sioux City, passed away Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017, after a brief illness.
Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Center of the Mater Dei Parish, with the Rev. Dan Rupp officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.christysmith.com .
Larry was born to Joseph and Madonna Meinen, on Oct. 25, 1947. He was baptized and confirmed at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City. Larry attended Immaculate Conception Grade School and graduated from Bishop Heelan High School in 1966. Larry served in the U.S. Navy from October 1966 to September 1970. He served on the USS Coral Sea and USS Oriskany and four tours in Vietnam.
After serving in the Navy, he married Gail Moore on Nov. 6, 1971, in Sioux City. They had three children. Larry was employed with IBP/Tyson for 39 years. He worked in maintenance, refrigeration and eventually was promoted to complex engineer, retiring 2010.
Larry was a longtime member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. He loved working outside, planting plants and manicuring his lawn. After retiring, he spent time taking care of his friend's acreage. He took great pride in taking care of his home, vehicles and motorcycles, but most important he was a devoted family man. Larry was a very generous man. He was always willing to help anyone in need. He was known in the neighborhood for mowing yards and scooping snow.
Survivors include his wife, Gail Meinen of Sioux City; his children, Jeff Meinen (wife, Missy), Marie Meinen, and Mike Meinen (wife, Jentri) of Sioux City; three grandchildren, Ella Meinen, Emersyn Meinen, and Eastyn Meinen; his brother, Kirk (wife, Brenda) Meinen of Dittmer, Mo.; sister in-law, Janette Pidde of Comfrey, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Madonna Meinen.