Arthur Glenn Meerdink

Arthur Glenn Meerdink, aged 97, went to worship God in the ultimate choir on May 28, 2025. His beloved wife and best friend of more than forty years, Sharon Meerdink, was with him to the end of his earthly journey. Their marriage was one of love, laughter and steadfast commitment.

Glenn is also dearly loved and survived by his three children and their families: Mary Jen (Bret Burrows) Meerdink, David Meerdink and Douglas (Leia) Meerdink and grandchildren, Amanda, Lindsay, Sutter and Arlo Meerdink. He is also survived by the mother of his three children, Grace Bell, of Sylvania, Ohio.

He is further survived by the family he happily gained and treasured in marrying Sharon: including Sharon’s children, Dave (Judy Bondus) Strayer, Laurie Strayer, Mark (Robyn) Strayer and Jenny Strayer and grandchildren Andrew Strayer, William (Lily Schacht) Strayer, Molly (Erin) Brown and Claire (James) Moss and great-grandchildren, Arlo and Micah. His son-in-law, Allen Rodriguez, preceded him in death.

Glenn was born on November 17, 1927 and raised in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, the beloved son of Arthur and Jennie (Oonk) Meerdink, with his sisters Marion (Lloyd Walvoord) and Doris (Ken Carlson). He also gained a step-mother, Delia (Oonk Daane) and step-brother in LaMont (Arlean) Daane. Glenn was very proud of his Wisconsin roots in the beautiful, Dutch farming community in which he grew up. (You could always find him wearing “Bucky Badger” red and cheering on the Wisconsin teams, in victory and defeat). He is survived by his “baby” sister, Doris, and his many wonderful nieces and nephews who held very special places in his heart.

In every chapter of Glenn’s life, his faith, his worship through music and being of service in the churches in which he was a member was central in his life. As he would say, each time he found himself in a new setting, his first step was always to find a church home and a choir in which to find both fellowship and the opportunity to praise God through music. Soon enough, in each congregation, he would find himself in every service role from Elder to Deacon to making pancakes for Saturday Morning Men’s Breakfasts. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Maumee (Ohio) for more than fifty years. He also loved the community he found in many decades of singing barbershop music.

Glenn found great joy in the people he encountered all along his journey. He was quick with a smile, a heartfelt greeting and a kind word. He was a storyteller with a lifelong love of history and had a very sentimental heart. He loved sharing stories about everything from his own youth to significant historical events to funny anecdotes about life, all with an eye to sharing his sense of wonder with his audience. Glenn knew no strangers. He was a man who lived in the peace of his deep faith in God.

Glenn graduated from Oostburg High School, Central College (Pella, Iowa) and the University of Wisconsin School of Law. He especially loved his years living in Washington, D.C. where he worked for the Treasury Department under Eisenhower and was a very active member of the of the National Presbyterian Church. After his time in Washington, D.C, his professional life included working for Central College, a move to Minneapolis, MN, where he began his career in banking and a next move to Perrysburg, Ohio with First National Bank of Toledo in the Trust Department. In later years, he worked in development for both St. Luke’s and Mercy Hospitals in Toledo and with Findlay Bank in Findlay, Ohio.

The family wants to share their deep appreciation for both Ohio Living Hospice and Friends of the Family, especially Lisa, Sharay and DeVonna and family friend, Chaz, whose kind and devoted care of Glenn allowed him to live out his days at home with Sharon.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee, 200 East Broadway Street, Maumee, Ohio at 11 a.m. There is a lunch to follow and burial at Whitehouse Cemetery thereafter. The family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 3 and again on Wednesday morning from 10 to 11 a.m., prior to the service. Both of these visitation times will be at First Presbyterian Church of Maumee. Those wishing to make a donation in Glenn Meerdink’s memory are encouraged to consider The Humane Society or First Presbyterian Church.