JAY DOUGLAS MEESTER

Jay Douglas Meester, son of Harold and Wava (Minor) Meester, was born March 1, 1954 in Grundy Center, Iowa. He was welcomed home by his older sister Pamela Jo.
Jay grew up on the Grundy County farm that his great-grandfather homesteaded in 1868. This farm has remained in the family and was recognized as a Heritage Farm at the 2018 Iowa State Fair. Jay had a love for horses from an early age and helped run the family farm starting at nine years old when his dad was injured. He ran Cross Country before graduating from Grundy Center High School with the class of 1972. Following high school, he volunteered at the Cedar Falls Police Department, the New Hartford Police Department, was a Cedar Valley Emergency Volunteer, a storm spotter for the Black Hawk County E.M.A., and an E.M.T. for a private ambulance service in Waterloo. Jay trained horses and had a love for dancing. He taught country dancing in Cedar Falls.
Jay was united in marriage to Patricia Lynn (Pat) Odell on October 2, 1982, in Aplington, Iowa. Together they had four daughters: Holly Mae, Lacey Jayne, Briar Rose (stillborn), and Kelsey Marie.
Jay had a love for mechanics and “turning wrenches,” and he turned this love into a career when he started working at Allis Chalmers and then moved to John Deere. He worked at dealerships in Grundy Center, Aplington, Colorado, and eventually Mount Ayr, Iowa, in 1986. In 1987, Jay and Pat opened Mount Ayr Tractor and Machine. Jay had a vast knowledge of tractors and lived to share it with others.
As his daughters grew up, Jay was active in their many pursuits. He welcomed their husbands into the family and loved his role as “Papa”. His love of riding and training horses grew over the years. He was the 4-H Superintendent for the horse project from 1993 to 2018 and helped with the FFA Tractor restorations from 2012 to 2017. Jay was active in the United Baptist Presbyterian Church, youth group, and Ringgold Singers.
Jay passed away August 21, 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter, Briar Rose.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife Pat Meester of Mount Ayr, IA; daughters Holly Howell and husband, Jeremiah of Mount Ayr, IA, Lacey Reed and husband, Cody of Winterset, IA, and Kelsey Kinyon and husband, Scott of Creston, IA; four grandchildren, Brodie Ann Howell, Collin Jay Howell, Callie Lynn Kinyon, and Rowdy Maverick Reed; sister, Pamela Jo Meester of Aplington, IA; brothers and sisters-in-law; nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many good friends.     A visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 27, 2018 at the United Baptist Presbyterian Church in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Jay’s name to the United Baptist Presbyterian Church.
Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.