Thomas J. Meier

The trail ended abruptly for Thomas J. Meier, 61, when he died unexpectedly on August 12, 2012 at his home on Karma Ridge near Denali National Park, Alaska. An avid outdoorsman, Tom lived his passion, working for over 35 years as a wildlife biologist. After graduating from Pine City High School in 1968, Tom earned a B.S. in Biology and M.S. in Zoology from the University of Minnesota which set him on the track to becoming one of the foremost experts on wolves in North America. He began studying wolves in 1976 and worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Minnesota and Wisconsin for 10 years. He joined research trips to Palmer Station, Antarctica in 1980 and 1981 and lent his expertise to Israel in 1998. Tom first moved to Alaska in 1986 to conduct fieldwork for the Denali wolf project for the U.S. National Park Service and returned to Minnesota to pursue a doctorate in 1993. The trail next led to Kalispell, Montana where he joined a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service project to restore the wolf population in the Northwestern United States, but his love of Alaska took him back to Denali in 2004 to lead the biological program and conduct research. He coauthored what is considered one of the most comprehensive and accessible studies of wolves, The Wolves of Denali, and gave presentations around the world. Tom had great wit, a wry sense of humor, deep intelligence, a gentle spirit and a generous heart. A talented photographer, known for the dash back to join a group photo after setting the timer, his work appeared in many publications including National Geographic. He was godfather to six nieces and younger cousins and valued his family and world-wide network of friends. Vacations were spent with family and friends at Crooked Thunder, his hunting camp near Hinckley, or at his childhood home on Woodpecker Ridge and were filled with gatherings around bonfires, listening to an eclectic range of music, reading just about everything ever written, and toasting special people and moments with White Port. He is survived by his brother Michael Meier and wife Jill of Pine City; sister Karlen (Meier) Cochran of Weston, WI; nieces and nephews: Darcy (Meier) and husband Jarrod Pinotti of Rush City, Amy (Cochran) Peters of Wausau, WI, Tracy (Meier) and husband Todd Welsch of Rush City, Beth Cochran of Weston, Mindy (Cochran) and husband Bob Verhasselt of Weston, Jake Meier and Rayna Meier of Maplewood; grand nieces and nephews: Taylor, Kaylana, Kristi, Kyle, Ryan, Nicholas, Hayley Mae, Ariana, Kralen and Kinzley; goddaughter Samantha Peterson of Encinitas, CA; godson Maxwell Peterson of Oceanside, CA; and many more close relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Helen (Krech ) Meier and his brother-in-law John Cochran. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City, Minnesota with a time of visitation at 10:00 a.m.