Max Meidinger of Yuma, Colorado, was born September 21, 1938 in Zeeland, North Dakota to Gottfried and Helen (Perman) Meidinger. Max was the 5th of the 12 Meidinger siblings born. He passed away May 19, 2024 at the age of 85. Max lived in Zeeland from 1938 – 1968 at home, and with other area farmers, where he learned the skill of hard work. Those that knew Max, associated him with hard work.
Max and his brothers Milbert and Norman, worked 5,600 feet underground for a brief time in the gold mines in Lead, South Dakota. After moving away from Zeeland to Langdon, North Dakota, Max began his career in electrical work where he gained employment with a power-line company installing above ground lines. With the power-line company, he moved all around the country with stretches in Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota, and Colorado. Max says his employer sent him all over the country because he was “the only one smart enough to run their crappy equipment.” He recalled many times traveling over the mountains in blizzard like conditions in that crappy equipment and was amazed he survived those trips.
After many years on the road with the power-line company, Max made his permanent residence in Yuma, Colorado in 1974. He continued his electrical work once arriving in Yuma where he was employed by Hamblin Electric. After the infamous blizzard of 1977, Max began working for the City of Yuma where he was employed for 20 years. During that time, he started his own business, M&M Excavating, in the mid 1980’s, and continued that work up until a few short years ago. Max specialized in repairing irrigation components, trenching, and digging graves in the area, where he was many producers go-to repairman if they wanted the job done quickly and correctly. As if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Max ran his own cow/calf operation. After selling his herd and retiring from excavation business, Max found a part time job at Dano’s Ag Tractor Repair sweeping the floor and of course, socializing. Max was not one to shy away from hard work to provide for his family.
On December 30, 1972, Max welcomed a son to the world, Michael (Mike) Meidinger of Bloomfield, New Mexico. Mike blessed Max with the title of Grandpa with the arrival of his three children, Joslyn, Mackenzie, and Zachery. Max married his wife, Peggy (Kuntz) Meidinger, February 16, 1987 and they celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary in 2024. To this matrimony came the birth of their daughter Elizabeth (Beth) Dischner of Yuma.
In Max’s free time, he enjoyed playing the lottery, watching rodeo, especially saddle bronc riding, visiting his friends around town, and a good bowl of ice cream. His German roots were strong as he enjoyed several German dishes, polka music, and arguing with his siblings in German.
Max is survived by his wife, Peggy Meidinger, son, Mike Meidinger, grandchildren, Joslyn, Mackenzie, and Zachery Meidinger, daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Michael Dischner, siblings, Ella Hood, Norman and Genevieve Meidinger, Melvin and Rosalynn Meidinger, Sharilyn and Kenneth Schauer, Connie Meidinger-Bires, Larry Meidinger, Ruth Meidinger, Connie Meidinger. In-laws, Tom and Linda Kuntz, Terry and Marlene Kuntz, Tim and Rhonda Kuntz, Cindy and Dan Killip, Danny and Melody Kuntz, Pam and Jerome Stieb, Mona and Dale Mills, Roger Kuntz, and Bonnie Wallin-Kuntz along with over a hundred nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Max is preceded in death by his parents, Gottfried and Helen Meidinger, siblings, Gerhardt and Edna Meidinger, Peuna and Raymond Kaseman, Milbert Meidinger, Marcella Meidinger, and Kenneth Meidinger. Father and mother-in-law, Ed and Josette Kuntz, brother-in-law, Chuck Kuntz and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service by officiant, Ryan Noble is to be held at the Yuma Cemetery in Yuma, Colorado on May 31, 2024 at 10:30 am. A gathering of family and friends will follow from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm at Skyview Garage Event Center located at 309 S. Main Street, Yuma, CO 80759.