Kenneth W. Meester, 83 of Grand Island passed away, Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at the Grand Island VA Hospital.

Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM, Friday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Lonnie Logan Officiating. A visitation will be one hour prior to service. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Full Military Honors presented by the North Platte Veterans Honor Guard.

The family requests memorials to be made to the donor's choice. Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be directed to www.livson.com.

Kenneth was born June 15, 1934 to Martin and Edith (Zimmerman) Meester at Hastings, NE. As a small child the family moved to Idaho until his senior year of high school when they moved back to Hastings. He then graduated from Hastings High School with the class of 1952.

After graduating high school he joined the United States Navy, serving from December of 1951 to June of 1955, serving during the Korean War.

On May 5, 1967 he married his wife Neva. While living in Hastings he worked for Hastings Industries and was the lead singer for the country music band, The Western Wanderers. In October of 2007, he was inducted into the Nebraska Country Music Hall of Fame. In 1977 the family moved to Long Beach, CA where he was employed by the Craig Corp. as the QC Manager. In 1983 they moved to Grand Island where he was employed by Island Supply Co. and because of health problems he had to retire in 1996.

He enjoyed reading his Bible, fishing, country music, loved animals, and feeding the squirrels. He especially loved spending time with his family.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 50 years, Neva; two sons, Roger and wife Frankie of Washington, and Rodney of Lincoln; daughters, Denise and husband Wayne Kummer of Columbus and Renee and husband Larry Landstrom of Axtell.

Those also surviving Kenneth are his grandchildren, Aaron Landstrom and friend, Stephanie Leigh of Grand Island, Jason and wife Jayleen Landstrom of Axtell, Jackson Kummer of Columbus, Timothy Kummer and Fiancee, Hollie Morton of Bassett, and Samantha, Kaylynne and Shannon Meester, all of Washington; and one great granddaughter, Revyn Landstrom of Axtell; one brother, Gary and wife Helen of League City, TX; two sisters, Karen Glebe of Houston, TX and Colleen Schutte of Camp Verde, AZ; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Martin.