January 7, 1924 – September 1, 2020

Mike passed away in Moses Lake, Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.

Mike was born in Lake City, Minnesota, on Jan. 7, 1924, to Arthur and Selma Meincke. After graduating from high school, Mike entered the Army Air Corps in November 1942. He completed air traffic control school and was sent to England in November 1943. He was then sent to Scotland to train for for D-Day which he was involved in on Utah Beach. Mike was also involved in the Battle of the Bulge during December 1944.

After World War II, Mike served in Cold Bay, Alaska, until 1950 when he joined the U.S. Air Force as an air traffic controller in Korea. In Korea he was involved in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir which was fought in bitter below-zero-degree temperatures. During World War II Mike earned several commendations including a Bronze Star, European Campaign Ribbon, Victory Medal, American Defense Ribbon, European Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, battle stars for the Normandy landing and the Battle of the Bulge and a Sharpshooter Medal. France awarded Mike the Legion La Garde Medal. He also earned the Korean Service Medal and a National Defense Medal.

After Korea, while stationed at Paine Field, Everett, Washington, he met Lillian, a lady with five children from a previous marriage. They married and became an instant family of seven. Shortly after their marriage, he was reassigned to Larson Air Force Base, Moses Lake, Washington. Three years later he got orders for Misawa, Japan. After four years in Misawa, the family returned to Moses Lake where Mike retired in November 1963 at the rank of master sergeant.

Mike and Lil bought Kelly's Tavern in Moses Lake and turned it into a popular restaurant/tavern and operated it for 10 years or so before selling it. They then retired to Republic, Washington, a small town in the mountains. Later, bored with retirement, they purchased Gib's Tavern, remodeled it and turned it into a prosperous restaurant tavern before selling it six years later. They then started Mountain View Nursery for bedding plants and operated that enterprise for about six years before retiring back in Moses Lake. Mike and Lil were both avid fishermen and fell in love with salmon fishing at Sekiu and Neah Bay in Washington. He spent 43 years running back and forth fishing.

After over 40 years of marriage, Lil passed away. Mike later married Irma Alloway of Moses Lake. After seven years he lost Irma too. Mike then spent summers in Sekiu in his “little house at the dock on the bay” fishing halibut, salmon and whatever else they allowed, and winters in Moses Lake where he had a small apartment on Bob (son) and Kris’s (Bob’s wife) property. He had a great life, one we all aspire to. He was healthy, active and had many family and friends that loved him.

Mike was preceded in death by his wives, Lillian and Irma, his mother and father Arthur and Selma Meincke and his sister Margaret and brother-in-law William Powers. He is survived by his five children Karen Friedbauer, Bob Chudomelka (Kristine), Stephen Chudomelka, Carol Funkhouser (Alan) and Cathe Herbert (Jeff); his sisters Nancy Powers and Linda Dankers; brother Arthur Meincke; nephew Scott Powers (his hunting buddy); nine grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Mike's wishes were to have no services and to have his ashes spread over the waters of Eagle Point at Sekiu, Washington, where he spent so many years fishing with friends and family.