On October 8, 2016, we lost our family leader, John Meidinger, at the age of 97. He left us peacefully after a stroke and will be greatly missed by all.

John was born on July 24, 1919 to parents: Fred and Iola (Von Reinthaler) Meidinger in Brooklyn New York. He grew up on Long Island, NY, where he attended Hofstra University. At this same time, he was also a professional saxophone player in several big bands up and down the east coast. In 1941, John joined the Army. Times were so tough that they trained with broomsticks instead of rifles. John ended up being shipped around the world to India, where he was assigned to the Burma campaign in the fight against the Japanese during WWII.

After the war, John married and joined Chase Packaging Co., where he worked for 30 years. As a salesman he personally opened new markets in the California desert, Mexico and Hawaii. He was ultimately promoted to Vice President and Director of West Coast Operations.

In 1964, as a widower with three children, he met and married Helen Rhine, who had one child. They spent 54 wonderful years together, raising their blended family in Garden Grove, CA. Upon retirement in 1988, they moved to their summer home in Friday Harbor, WA and went on to spend 28 great years boating, fishing and golfing in the San Juans, where music remained an important part of their lives.

John is survived by his wife: Helen Rhine Meidinger; son: Mike Meidinger (Vicki) of Grants Pass, OR; daughters: Virginia Bloomberg (Richard) of Rancho Mirage, CA; Cathy Sand of Chelan, WA; Andria Rhine of Friday Harbor, WA; grandchildren: Micah Meidinger (Kathy), Matthew Meidinger (Rachel), Charity Rich, Scott Manville, Michele Thompson (Rick) and six great-grandchildren.

A celebration of John’s life will take place at a family reunion in the Spring of 2017.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel &Crematory Inc., of Anacortes, WA &the San Juan Islands. To share a memory of John please visit www.evanschapel.com and sign the online guest register.