James William Meteer, Sr
April 7, 1921 — March 6, 2007
James William Meteer, Sr. 85, of L'Anse, died Tuesday morning, March 6, 2007, at Baraga County Memorial Hospital, following a lengthy illness.
He was born April 7, 1921, in Columbus, Ohio, a son of the late William F. and Julia Ann (Kerns) Meteer. He attended Hilliard High School in Hilliard, Ohio. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science in 1944 and a Masters Degree of Forestry in 1947 from the University of Michigan.
Jim was a WWII and Korean War Veteran, having served as a Captain in the Marine Corps. He was stationed in the Pacific Theatre and China during his time in the service.
In 1944 he married the former Olympia "Lee" Capaldi on the marine base in Quantico, VA.
Jim was employed as an assistant professor with the Ohio State Agricultural Experiment Station before taking a position as professor of Forest Research and Forestry at the Ford Forestry Center at Michigan Tech University. He earned Professor Emeritus status with MTU in 1984. Following retirement from MTU he served as president of Forest Restoration Inc., a company that worked towards the development of the forest-based economy in the Western Upper Peninsula. He also owned and operated Superior Forest Systems, a consulting firm.
His professional activities included a fellowship and 50 year membership with the Society of American Foresters; he helped organize the Michigan Forest Association and served as its director for 10 years.
Jim was a member of the Baraga County Memorial Hospital Board of Directors, chaired the Baraga County Committee for Overall Development and Planning, served on the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Commission, member of L'Anse Village Industrial Committee, Vice Chair of Baraga County Senior Citizens Board, was an original organizer and Trustee of the Baraga County Community Foundation, former president of Baraga County Kiwanis for 2 terms, member and chair of the Public Library Advisory Board, Trustee of the Copper Country Intermediate School District, member of the American Legion, VFW, Marine Corps League, Lions, U of M Club of the Copper Country, Knight of Columbus, St. Vincent De Paul Society and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. He was also selected Baraga County Citizen of the Year 1997.
His leisure activities included genealogical studies, computers, American history, Sons of American Revolution, hunting and fishing.
He is survived by his wife, Olympia "Lee" Meteer of L'Anse; sons, James (Elizabeth) Meteer, Jr. of St. Louis, Missouri and Philip Capaldi (Nancy) Meteer of Townsend, MA; daughters, Antoinette Lee (John) Shepich of New Berlin, WI and Julia Ann (Mark) Antiel of Coon Rapids, MN; a sister, Florence Summy of Cuyahoga Falls, OH; 9 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Charles L. Meteer.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 9, 2007 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Jacobson Funeral Home. A parish prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. followed by the Baraga County Area Veterans conducting military honors. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 11 a.m. in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church with Rev. George Maki officiating. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the mass in the church. Interment will be in the Wesley Chapel Cemetery in Hilliard, Ohio in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Baraga County Memorial Hospital or the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.