Mike Meusborn
Dwaine Herbert “Mike” Meusborn was born Dec. 8, 1928, to Walter and Fern (Unseld) Meusborn in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. He died June 6, 2021, at the age of 92 at his home in Holyoke.
Mike attended school in Cedar Rapids, and following his graduation from CR High School he attended college in Central City, Nebraska, for two years. After college he went to work for REA (Highline Electric Association) in Holyoke until he was drafted in 1951.
He served his country in the Army, stationed in England for 18 months as a radar operator. He was also a player/captain for the Army basketball team.
While Mike was in the service, his fiancee, Euletta, affectionately known as “the redhead,” moved from Holyoke to California with some friends. After his discharge, he went to California.
Mike married Euletta Pittsenberger of Holyoke at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Gardena, California, on Feb. 14, 1953. Their union was blessed with four children: Diane, Randy “Terry,” Tim and Tom. They were together for 59 years before Euletta died in 2012.
During his years in California he worked for two companies: Harvey Aluminum for 12 years and AiResearch Manufacturing for 20 years. Most of those years were spent in a supervisory capacity. Mike retired in 1985 and lived in California until 1987, then they returned to Holyoke to make it their permanent home.
Mike enjoyed camping and hunting, especially pheasant and duck. Although from stories told, the best part of duck hunting was spending time with his very good buddy Daryl Kropp. Mike also liked working for local farmers. He drove grain truck for Brad and Bev Young until he was 80 years old.
In 2001 he and his wife joined the Holyoke Meals on Wheels team. It wasn’t long before he was doing the scheduling for the teams. He did that for 14 years and only quit at age 86 when his cousin, Sherry Simms, took over for him.
A big part of Mike’s life was sports. His favorite sport to play was basketball. But he loved to coach and watch baseball and softball. He coached his three young boys in their Park League and Little League teams and his daughter in her adult slow-pitch league. In 1996 Mike met Ron Lock, who also liked sports as much as he did. When they discovered that they were both Nebraska boys, that sealed their friendship forever.
In 1996 Mike and Ron coached 15-year-old baseball and 15-to-18-year-old softball in 1999 and 2000. In the fall of 2003, Ron got Holyoke High School started in its softball program. Mike helped Ron from 2003-2007. He also helped Ashley Clayton from 2009-2013 when she was the HHS softball coach.
Mike was an avid fan and supporter of the Holyoke Dragons. He really enjoyed watching the young people play, going to the games with his friends Les Lutze, Stan Travis, Jerry Lauer and Jim Muths, and listening to the games on the radio.
Mike loved his family and friends and would do anything he could to help them.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; sister-in-law, Pat (Pittsenberger) Edwards; brother-in-law, Tom Edwards; and son-in-law, Jim Dela Torre.
Mike is survived by his children, Diane Dela Torre, Randy “Terry” and wife Kay, Tim and wife Lucy, and Tom and wife Mary; brother-in-law, Ron Pittsenberger and wife Jeri; grandchildren, Terrina Hill and husband Bryan, Patty Ziegler and husband Eric, Michael Meusborn and wife Samantha, Sherry Gahagen, Chrissy Danford, Shawn Meusborn and Kellie Meusborn; and great-grandchildren, Kait Norman, Lane Ziegler, Tyler Ziegler, Wyatt Hill and wife Kiya, Makaela Hill, Isabelle Meusborn, Olivia Meusborn, Amelia Meusborn and Faith Gahagen.
Memorial contributions can be made to City of Holyoke Recreation, 407 E. Denver St., Holyoke, CO 80734
The funeral service was held June 16 at Baucke Funeral Home in Holyoke. Interment followed at the Holyoke Cemetery.
Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.