Francis J. Meister was born March 1, 1928, at the family farm near Greeley, NE to Peter J. and Mary A. (Nealon) Meister; the middle of ten children.
Francis served in the United States Army Air Corps at the very end of WWII, then in the US Army with the 3rd Infantry Division in three campaigns during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953.
He married Lois Ann Johnson of Dannenbrog, NE on August 28, 1954 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island.
Francis worked as a switchman with the Union Pacific Railroad and for the city of Laramie Wyoming from 1955 to 1959. He moved to Grand Island where he hauled sand and gravel along with brothers, Bill and John. Together they owned Meister Brothers' Sand and Gravel until 1972. He then worked at Sperry New Holland, retiring in 1990.
In his off time, Francis enjoyed fishing and boating, endless games of solitaire, walking, and crosswords. With his brothers Bill and John, formed the Meister Brothers Band, playing old time country and ballads at area festivals, nursing homes and the VA Hospital. He loved playing lead guitar until losing his eyesight to macular degeneration. He was a member of the Eagles Club and the Knights of Columbus.

Frank Meister, 87, of Grand Island died Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at Bickford Cottage in Grand Island.
Francis is survived by  his wife of 61 years, Lois Ann (Johnson); daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Dan Davis of Omaha, and Carol and Troy Harris of Grand Island; grandchildren, Megan, Kathryn, Zach, Sarah and Johanna; great grandchildren, MacKenzie, Kilian and Keira; his oldest brother John; and sister, Anne Maser.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Larry F. Meister; three brothers and four sisters, William, Robert, James, Marie Smollen, Roberta (Berkie) Nelson, Emma (Bobbie) Krafczik and Marguerite (Margie) Deschene.


Funeral Services will be 10:00 AM Saturday, September 12, 2015, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Grand Island with The Reverend Richard Piontkowski officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM Friday, September 11 at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery with full Military Honors. Online condolences may be directed to www.livson.com. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project.