Obituary for Douglas Meisner
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, friend and “Mary Meisner’s Chauffeur”, Doug has gone to a better place.
Doug was a true son of Lunenburg, having been born, lived and died within sound of the battery point Lighthouse.
To understand Douglas you needed to know that he was an only child, that he grew up during the Great Depression and World War II, a time when many had very little and many gave their all. You needed to know that Doug's father drowned towards the end of Doug's last year in high-school and Doug went straight from school to making a living for he and his Mother. You had to know his mother was diagnosed with leukemia and passed on before Doug was 23. He decorated a full Christmas tree for her in her hospital room that Christmas, with the nurses looking the other way. You need to know Doug had 2 children because growing up as an only child he envied friends who had a sibling, as they were never alone.
Doug was able to finish High-school as both of his parents had lost brothers at sea in the years before his birth, a full education was a way to avoid going to sea. Doug was always employed on shore in the fishing industry, at National Sea Products when at school, and working in the office for Zwicker and Company, Nickerson Seafoods, Scotia Trawler and when they bought Scotia Trawler, for National Sea Products. He had seen the industry go from salt cod and dory schooners to flash frozen and factory freezer trawlers.
Over the course of his 93 years Doug was an active member of many service organizations within the town and county, so much so that he was one of the 1st honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award when the Town began presenting this annual award. He was also a lifelong active member of Zion Lutheran Church being a member of the Church Council, Fellowship committee, Choir and Men’s Choir, and Garden committee. Doug Loved To Sing!
Doug's best days growing up were the days spent playing sports, basketball was his game, although he participated in Air Cadets, Softball, Hockey, Badminton, choral club… He would recall when during the war the forces had a full line from the Toronto Maple Leafs in town and they got to play them, the forces guys spotted them 20 goals and the locals that were too young to enlist, of which he was one, “fought like hell” to not let them win!
Doug was also part of the Lunenburg Falcons Organization, when semi-professional hockey came to Lunenburg – one of his favourite stories was arranging to fly a pair of skates from Halifax to Moncton in time for a game.
After his Mother died Doug became a “Boarder”, paying for room and board while living with a family. Later he was often heard to utter “Boarding house reach” as he snagged something tasty off a plate that decorum would have required he take a politer approach.
It was through “Boarding” that he met the love of his life for over 60 years; Mary Dickson was a Scottish Registered Nurse, and the nurses residence was not ready so she was put up at Mrs. Browns, where a Douglas Meisner was boarding – from that day to this Mary would say that Mrs. Browns was where she and Doug lived – Before they got Married.
Doug's first real aeroplane ride was when he flew to Scotland to get married and meet his in-laws to-be, nerve racking to say the least! Happily his in-laws took to him and treated him like another son, including putting him to work on the farm whenever he was there.
Doug and Mary went on to have 2 sons, gained 2 Daughters In Law and 2 Grand Daughters – Doug always put them 1st, his time was best spent, in his estimation, spending time with his family – none of them ever wondered where Doug's loyalty lay – he would drop everything for family.
His best role was that of Grandpa, he was never a loud boisterous person but his Grand Daughters would often be found quietly helping Grandpa weed the garden or dig a hole or fight his nemesis – the dandelion. His speed always adjusted to theirs and he was never in a rush when they were with him.
Sadly Alzheimer’s won in the end and on May 14th the world lost a quiet, sincere man, who always tried his hardest and asked nothing more than the same in return. He leaves behind a world that is better for his having lived, a family that will remember him dearly and at least 2 families with a drive to have smooth, green, dandelion free lawns.
Doug was a true son of Lunenburg, having been born, lived and died within sound of the battery point Lighthouse.
To understand Douglas you needed to know that he was an only child, that he grew up during the Great Depression and World War II, a time when many had very little and many gave their all. You needed to know that Doug's father drowned towards the end of Doug's last year in high-school and Doug went straight from school to making a living for he and his Mother. You had to know his mother was diagnosed with leukemia and passed on before Doug was 23. He decorated a full Christmas tree for her in her hospital room that Christmas, with the nurses looking the other way. You need to know Doug had 2 children because growing up as an only child he envied friends who had a sibling, as they were never alone.
Doug was able to finish High-school as both of his parents had lost brothers at sea in the years before his birth, a full education was a way to avoid going to sea. Doug was always employed on shore in the fishing industry, at National Sea Products when at school, and working in the office for Zwicker and Company, Nickerson Seafoods, Scotia Trawler and when they bought Scotia Trawler, for National Sea Products. He had seen the industry go from salt cod and dory schooners to flash frozen and factory freezer trawlers.
Over the course of his 93 years Doug was an active member of many service organizations within the town and county, so much so that he was one of the 1st honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award when the Town began presenting this annual award. He was also a lifelong active member of Zion Lutheran Church being a member of the Church Council, Fellowship committee, Choir and Men’s Choir, and Garden committee. Doug Loved To Sing!
Doug's best days growing up were the days spent playing sports, basketball was his game, although he participated in Air Cadets, Softball, Hockey, Badminton, choral club… He would recall when during the war the forces had a full line from the Toronto Maple Leafs in town and they got to play them, the forces guys spotted them 20 goals and the locals that were too young to enlist, of which he was one, “fought like hell” to not let them win!
Doug was also part of the Lunenburg Falcons Organization, when semi-professional hockey came to Lunenburg – one of his favourite stories was arranging to fly a pair of skates from Halifax to Moncton in time for a game.
After his Mother died Doug became a “Boarder”, paying for room and board while living with a family. Later he was often heard to utter “Boarding house reach” as he snagged something tasty off a plate that decorum would have required he take a politer approach.
It was through “Boarding” that he met the love of his life for over 60 years; Mary Dickson was a Scottish Registered Nurse, and the nurses residence was not ready so she was put up at Mrs. Browns, where a Douglas Meisner was boarding – from that day to this Mary would say that Mrs. Browns was where she and Doug lived – Before they got Married.
Doug's first real aeroplane ride was when he flew to Scotland to get married and meet his in-laws to-be, nerve racking to say the least! Happily his in-laws took to him and treated him like another son, including putting him to work on the farm whenever he was there.
Doug and Mary went on to have 2 sons, gained 2 Daughters In Law and 2 Grand Daughters – Doug always put them 1st, his time was best spent, in his estimation, spending time with his family – none of them ever wondered where Doug's loyalty lay – he would drop everything for family.
His best role was that of Grandpa, he was never a loud boisterous person but his Grand Daughters would often be found quietly helping Grandpa weed the garden or dig a hole or fight his nemesis – the dandelion. His speed always adjusted to theirs and he was never in a rush when they were with him.
Sadly Alzheimer’s won in the end and on May 14th the world lost a quiet, sincere man, who always tried his hardest and asked nothing more than the same in return. He leaves behind a world that is better for his having lived, a family that will remember him dearly and at least 2 families with a drive to have smooth, green, dandelion free lawns.