Michael Carl Meier

Mike Meier passed away Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at his home in Pine City at the age of 76.

Michael Carl Meier was born March 7, 1946 the first of Carl and Helen (Krech) Meier’s three children. He grew up on Woodpecker Ridge, Cross Lake in Pine City.

Mike was raised Catholic, attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Pine City High School, class of 1964. In his 20's, Mike was part of a raucous Canoe Racing Team of several friends often telling stories of pancake eating contests and even one disqualification for not wearing the correct team socks.

Mike began his working career as a young boy delivering papers. After high school, he worked at Donovan’s and joined the Army National Guard where he joked that he never made it up a rank without going down one. He attended post-secondary education at Control Data Institute and also worked for the railroad and as a land surveyor. In 1970, he started his own security alarm company, North Watch Security and spent 40+ years working with Alarm Products Distribution. In the mid-1980's was employed at the Outdoorsman sport store in Pine City. In 2003, Mike became an FFL dealer and opened Cedar Creek Outfitters, his very own hunting/fishing sports store where he employed a number of loyal employees, including two of his children and his one-eyed dog, Crook. After 48 years of business ownership, he officially retired in 2018 at the age of 72.

In 1968, Mike married Lana Cummings and had two children, Darcy and Tracy, before settling down at “the farm” east of Beroun where he remained the rest of his life. Mike married Cyndi Ledo in 1982 and had two more children, Jake and Rayna. Mike married Christine Pangerl in 1999.  In 2009, Mike married Jill (Bearth) Brennhofer. Mike was a devoted father to his four children, often sharing his hobbies, passions and professions with them from a young age.

Mike’s hobbies included a love for the outdoors, guns, and reading. He spent many hunting seasons at the Meier family cabin (Crooked Thunder) surrounded by his friends and family, winters on the lake ice fishing or reading a good book, and summers sitting around fires and fishing off the dock at his childhood home. He loved to travel anywhere, as long as it was Alaska or Canada with those he loved. Mike was an avid lover of hunting wild game including deer, bear, moose, elk, waterfowl, turkey, and grouse. He had a lifelong love for dogs and cared for dozens over his many years including most beloved dogs Shane, Crook and Dozer.

Known for his love and ability to convince someone of the most outrageous, he had a knack for delivering nonsense with conviction. A true prankster to the end with an unmatchable wit.

In 2010, Mike began his battle with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. After successful chemotherapy and radiation treatments, he went into remission which he remained in until his re-diagnosis in 2016. He fought a hard and brave battle with cancer which took a toll on his body over the years.

Mike is survived by his wife Jill Meier of Pine City; daughters Darcy (Jarrod) Pinotti and Tracy (Todd) Welsch all of Rush City; son Jake (Amy) Meier of Pine City; daughter Rayna (Cody) Fackender of South Lyon, Michigan; sister Karlen Cochran of Weston, Wisconsin; granddaughters Taylor Welsch (Alexis Chau), Kaylana Leight, Ryan Welsch and Mae Welsch; great-grandchildren Adrian, Roman, Charlotte and Ezra; nieces Amy, Beth and Mindy; former wives Lana Meier, Cyndi Meier, Chris Pangerl Henschel; and many other relatives and friends; as well as dogs Dozer and Zoey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Tom Meier; brother-in-law John Cochran.

A time for family and friends to gather is planned from 10 AM-12 Noon; Saturday, March 4, 2023 at the Swanson Funeral Chapel in Pine City. A Celebration of Mike’s Life with lunch will follow at The Cricket in Rock Creek from 1-4 PM.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Rock Creek Lions, 7000 State Hwy. 70, Pine City, Minnesota 55063.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the: Funeral and Cremation Service of Pine City ~ Swanson Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com