Kenneth Paul Meister's Obituary
Kenneth Paul Meister passed away peacefully Saturday evening, August 2, 2025, at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa. He was 76 years old.
Born August 14, 1948, in Wichita, Kansas, Ken was the beloved son of Ralph and Frankie (Winters) Meister. He was a proud graduate of Wichita South High School Class of 1966. In his younger years, Ken spent countless hours with his father working on carpentry projects and learning about cars and motorcycles in the family garage. He continued his education at Butler County Community Junior College where he studied drafting-a foundation that would launch his long and successful career in civil structural design.
In 1970 Ken moved to Tulsa seeking new opportunities and found much more than employment. At Riley Southwest in 1976, he met the love of his life, Jolene, whom he married on March 12, 1977. Their partnership would span nearly five decades of shared adventures and unwavering devotion.
Ken's professional journey was marked by dedication and excellence. He worked across diverse industries, including healthcare and offshore drilling, approaching every project with enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail. Highly respected by colleagues wherever he worked, Ken formed lifelong friendships and was known for his willingness to work late into the night to ensure projects were completed to perfection. He retired from Willbros Engineering in 2014 after a distinguished career.
As a father, Ken was the ultimate supporter and cheerleader to his two children, Kent and Andrea, whom he raised in West Tulsa and Jenks. He took immense pride in their accomplishments and was always excited about their endeavors. Ken had a special gift for making ordinary moments extraordinary, constantly working to bring joy and demonstrate his boundless love for his children.
Ken's passions extended well beyond work and family. A lifelong motorcycle enthusiast, he rode many Harley Davidsons and personally rebuilt a variety of motorcyles. He treasured the motorcycle trips he took with his buddies, including memorable adventures to California, Sturgis, and the famous Dragon's Tail through the Smoky Mountains. He was thrilled to have passed on his love of motorcycles to his daughter Andrea, the two of them bonding over many rides taken together. He also spent many rewarding years rebuilding a 1971 Chevelle Malibu, alongside his son Kent, brother Ed, and friend Brent Berna. The car was a passion project that holds many special memories for the family.
He loved his annual fishing expeditions to Matagorda, Texas, with his brother-in-law Eddie Humphrey and his nephews. He always described the ocean as being therapeutic and planned a special Gulf Coast journey with Jolene, traveling from Texas to Florida and savoring every mile of their coastal adventure. Ken was also passionate about visiting the country's National Parks with Jolene, making several road trips to 25 parks throughout the years. He felt inspired by the rugged beauty of nature, especially their visit to the Half Dome at Yosemite, which was a particular favorite of his.
In short, he loved life and spread that joy to everyone around him.
Ken is survived by his devoted wife of 48 years, Jolene; his children Kent Meister and wife Morgan Zipf-Meister, and Andrea Meister and fiance Joshua Hicks; his brother Ed Meister; and sister Robin Reeder.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Frankie Meister, and his sister, JoEllen Moore.
A memorial service celebrating Ken's remarkable life will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday at the Rivercrest Chapel.
Ken's legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the projects he completed with pride, and the love he shared so generously with family and friends. His memory will be cherished by all who knew him.
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