Don Meike

A celebration of the life and open house for Don Meike, 93-year-old lifetime Southern Johnson County resident who passed away Thursday at the Meike Ranch East of Kaycee will be held Sunday, February 12^th  from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Harold  Jarrard Park Building in Kaycee by his family and friends. The Buffalo American Legion and VFW will be in charge of military rites at 2:00 p.m. at the Park Building. A private family interment will take place at a later date on the Meike Ranch.  Donations in Don’s name may be made to the Wyoming Woolgrowers Association at 811 N. Glen Road in Casper, Wyoming 82601, or to Meike’s Bunkhouse at P.O. Box 372 in Kaycee, Wyoming 82639.

Donald Lewis Meike was born on May 6, 1929, in Sussex, Wyoming on the family ranch to Peter and Naomi Streeter Meike. He attended Sussex Grade School, often being the only student in his grade.  He attended Johnson County High School in Buffalo, where he lived with his aunt. He attended the University of Wyoming and received a Bachelor’s Degree with honors in General Agriculture in 1951 and was also a member of the livestock judging team and Sigma Nu Fraternity. He was selected as an International Farm Youth Exchange Delegate to Denmark for six months during his senior year.  He was drafted shortly after his UW graduation and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Cadet Program.  He served for five years in the Air Force and flew combat missions in Korea before receiving an honorable discharge and returning to the family ranch in Kaycee. Don continued to live and work on the ranch in Kaycee until his death.

Don was an outstanding leader and was always interested in politics. He was a member of the Johnson County Wool Growers and served as their treasurer.  He stayed very active in the Wool Growers and worked his way to the top as their national president where he worked with Dick Cheney and had meetings with President Ronald Reagan. Don distinguished himself as a rancher, sheepman, and Wyoming businessman.  He was always knowledgeable of new Ag practices and was quick to implement them into his ranching operation. His leadership style has influenced countless others in positive ways. Don and his brother Pete were very instrumental in establishing Meike’s Bunkhouse, a senior housing facility in Kaycee that they dedicated to their parents and grandparents. He was a big supporter of the Kaycee Sheepherders Rodeo, and the Deke Latham Memorial Rodeo and was inducted into the Wyoming Agriculture Hall of Fame. Don as a person was selfless in helping others, always had a positive attitude, and enjoyed mentoring others. He would also make it a point to get involved with any organization in need, you could always count on him, and throughout his life was always humble.  He will always be remembered and greatly missed by the people of Johnson County and the State of Wyoming. He is survived by one brother Peter Meike of Kaycee: one sister Emma Lee Koch also of Kaycee and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Helen Keeler and Barbara Wolcott.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­