John Meissner was a Hartland High School student and enjoyed playing pool with his friend, when he noticed his sister, 3 years his younger, Beverly. He asked her out and they went to Milwaukee’s Riverside Theater for their first date. After dating for a few years, they were marriage on April 23, 1960, at Zion Lutheran Church in Hartland. They spent their first few years of marriage in the upstairs apartment of their family’s farmhouse in Lisbon and eventually they took over the entire farmhouse and raise their three children, Jackie, Joe, and Jay. Together they managed their dairy farm and invested in their community as active members of the Merton Baptist Church, Waukesha County Farm Bureau, and 4-H among other community organizations.

After selling the farm, they built up a printing business in Pewaukee for 13 years. Printing has been a life-long ministry for Beverly, as she started doing her church bulletin when she was just 12 years old and she and John continue to print the prayer and celebration bulletin every month for the King’s Class of Spring Creek Church, where they enjoy worshipping with multiple generations of family members. They have seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Marriage Advice: Proverbs 3:5-6 is a wonderful guide – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will keep your paths straight.” The Lord has been with us. Be sure to put the other person’s feelings first. If each person gives 125%, you’ll be alright. The Lord has blessed us, we give Him all the credit!