Theodore "Ted" Meekma

Theodore "Ted" Meekma passed away peacefully at Remembrance Home in Beaver Dam, WI on September 3, 2026. He was 94.

Ted was born in the township of Westford, WI. He was the eleventh child of Alice (Zylstra) and George Meekma. Ted began school at Prairie Vista School, a one-room country schoolhouse with no running water, where all eight grades were taught by one teacher. When the school closed after Ted finished 6th grade, he moved to the Randolph Public School System, Class of 1949.

Ted was raised on a farm where 32 cows were milked by hand every day, as there were no milking machines back then. He started milking when he was six years old, and had additional daily morning and after-school chores on the farm. In summers, he was tasked with his least favorite job “watching cows” as they grazed along the roadside. He had to stay with the cows until they had eaten their fill and would start to lie down. He could then put them back in the pasture and go home. He was also a talented operator of milk trucks and dump trucks at an early age, way before receiving a driver license. In severe winters, their road may not get plowed for several days, and they would haul their milk to town with a team of horses and a sleigh.

Ted was raised in a strict Dutch Christian family. Church was attended twice on Sunday, with the second service conducted entirely in the Dutch language. As second-generation immigrants, Ted’s parents understood Dutch, but Ted never understood a word of it. Everyone remained dressed up for the entire day of rest, thus no play of any kind was allowed. Ted had a big day when he turned ten, as he got his first suit with long pants. Prior to that he was only allowed to wear knickers.

In May, 1953, he married the former Evelyn Furda, and they recently celebrated 73 years of marriage. Evelyn lived in Randolph, WI as a child when her father, Rev Furda, was the Pastor of the First Reformed Church. Ted was the first baby Rev Furda baptized in that church. Shortly thereafter, Evelyn moved with her family to the Chicago area. After graduating from college, Evelyn returned to Randolph to teach, and that’s when she met Ted. They were married in Churchville, PA, with Evelyn’s father officiating. So, Ted was baptized, and then married 21 years later, by his father-in-law. At the time of their marriage, Evelyn was a teacher in Churchville, and Ted was in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in Washington DC. Upon discharge from the Air force, Ted and Evelyn settled in Beaver Dam, where they raised their three children.

Ted was in the Air Force during the Korean War, enlisting stateside in January, 1950. He starting with basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, and then moved to Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC as a member of the Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps, in which he played tenor bugle. He was assigned to the Honor Guard, a military precision unit that performed very intricate routines with their carbines at various functions around the DC area, as well as military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Most memorable to Ted, was marching with the Corps in President Eisenhower’s inaugural parade in 1953.

Ted was employed as a Journeyman Carpenter until 1964 until he was hired into the Dodge County Traffic Police Force. In 1968 he was appointed Dodge County Undersheriff, elected Dodge County Sheriff in 1976, and re-elected to that office five times. In 1988, Governor Tommy G. Thompson appointed Ted the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council on Criminal Justice, a Cabinet post in his administration. Ted was appointed Administrator of the 670-member Wisconsin State Patrol in 1990, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1993.

In his professional capacity throughout the years, Ted proudly served on numerous law enforcement boards and committees at both the State and National level along with civic organizations such as the Jaycees and the Lions Club. A family-favorite poster is of Ted looking ever-so-serious in his Dodge County Traffic Police uniform, in front of his 1964 squad car, with the slogan, “Before you take that last drink for the road, remember the chaser.”

Once retired, Ted and Evelyn spent 24 wonderful “snowbird” years dividing their time between Bradenton, Florida and Beaver Dam. Ted and Evelyn also loved travelling to visit family and friends in their motor home, (actually 4 different motor homes) and visited 40+ states and numerous National Parks doing so. Some of their most treasured memories were simply parking the motor home in their kids’ driveways and having the grandchildren stay with them. Ted’s carpenter skills were often put to good use when they visited their children, as they always had fix-it jobs and even remodeling requests for the expert craftsman.

One of Ted’s greatest passions was singing. At the young age of 13, he began singing at public events. He was known throughout his life as a local vocal soloist, and later as “The Singing Sheriff”, singing for many weddings, funerals, and gospel programs. He sang in the choir at Grace Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, and was a member of the Beaver Dam Barbershoppers. He also had the honor to sing the National Anthem at many events, most notably at Milwaukee County Stadium (now American Family Field) for the Brewers, and at McKechnie Field (now LECOM Park) in Bradenton, the spring training facility for the Pittsburg Pirates.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents and step-mother Emelie, five brothers and five sisters, John (Josie) Meekma, Art (Lucille) Meekma, Sam (Ann) Meekma, Bill (Evelyn) Meekma, and George (Henrietta) Meekma, Betty (Tony) Petrungaro, Catherine (Elmer) Koehn, Mary (James) Bender, Alice (Ted) Tamminga, and Tillie (Al) VanderWerff.

Ted is survived by his wife, Evelyn, their children, Theodore (Heather) Meekma, Patricia (Thomas) Kearly, David Meekma, grandchildren Kyle (DJ) Kearly, Tanner (Lauren) Kearly, Isabel Meekma, Magnolia Meekma, great-grand daughter Noelle Kearly, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to sincerely thank the caring staff at the Remembrance Home and Hillside Home and Hospice who helped and supported Ted on his journey.

There will be a private family graveside burial service in Beaver Dam, with a memorial service to be planned at a later date. Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services is assisting with arrangements.