Robert E. Meinhardt, 89 of Mendota passed away on November 7 2019 at Alden Poplar Creek Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Hoffman Estates surrounded by family.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, Mendota with Rev. Steve Mindrup officiating. Burial will be in Restland Cemetery, Mendota with military honors by Mendota VFW Post 4079. Visitation will be Monday from 4-7 p.m. in the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota.

Bob was born on November 14, 1929 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Orris and Madge (Surrena) Meinhardt. He married Karoline (Hanson) on February 4, 1955 in Pipestone, MN.

He grew up on a farm in Iowa, after high school graduation he joined the military serving in the Army branch at the end of World War II in the military tribunal and also served during the Korean War and was awarded three bronze stars for meritorious service. He then attended South Dakota State University where he graduated with a degree in Agri science where he met his wife. They moved to Dixon after their marriage and in 1962 he moved his family to Mendota at which time they bought Henkel Grain Company,  after a few years he founded his own seed business known as Henkel Seeds continued his lifetime love of farming and the seed business in the area.

He was a member of St John's Lutheran Church and was a church council member, he served on the Mendota school board as well a lifelong member of the Mendota Elks Club and a member of Free Masons Society and many other agriculture related organizations.

Robert is survived by his three children; one son Tom (Ruth) Meinhardt of Mendota; two daughters, Nancy (Bill) Mathieu, of Amboy and Kristine (Del) Woodhouse of Hoffman Estates; seven grandchildren, Jason (Nicole) Meinhardt of Sterling, Kimberly Meinhardt of Brooklyn, NY, Timothy Meinhardt and his finance Kelsey Quick of West Brooklyn, Cora Mathieu of Mendota, Michael (Holly) Mathieu of Troy Grove, Matthew Woodhouse of Haslet, MI, and Rachel Woodhouse of Columbia, MO. and eight great grandchildren,

He was preceded in death by his father in 1961, his mother in 1974 and then his wife Karoline in 1994, as well as his step sisters Lavonia Allsup in 1937 and Vera Stout in 1998 and his sister Lois Dunley in 2008.

Memorials may be directed to St John's Lutheran Church or the Illinois Alzheimer's Association.