Allyn Meischen

Allyn Ernest Meischen, age 87, of Houston, Texas passed away unexpectedly on April 3, 2022 surrounded by his beloved wife and daughters.

Allyn was born on December 19, 1934 to Arthur and Alice Mae (Voelkel) Meischen in the Skull Creek Community, Austin, County, Texas.   He was baptized and confirmed at the Shelby Lutheran Church in Shelby, Texas in 1946.  He attended schools in Skull Creek, Shelby, Industry and Bellville.  After graduating from Bellville High School in 1953, he moved to Houston and attended Business College until he began a 42-year long career in the natural gas distribution industry (United Gas, Entex, and now CenterPoint Energy).  He held numerous positions until he retired as the Manager of CenterPoint’s Humble-Cypress Fairbanks operations.  While in Humble, he was a member of the Humble Intercontinental Rotary Club, receiving the Rhodes Scholar Award.  He was a member of the Humble Area Chamber of Commerce where he served as Chairman of the Membership and Diplomat Committees and served on the Board of Directors for several years.  Allyn was a Master Mason of the Grand Lodge of Texas AF and AM (Reagan Lodge #28) in Houston for 60 plus years.  He was a member of the Sons of Hermann, the Industry Volunteer Fire Department, and Shelby’s Harmonie Hall.

On June 9, 1956, Allyn married the love of his life, Lillie Mae Peschel (whom he had known since grade school) at the Industry United Methodist Church.  Their union was blessed with three daughters: Dinah Lynn Meischen of Houston, Brenda Kay Vitek of Katy, and a special daughter Tamara (“Tammy”) Leigh Meischen of Cypress.

Most important to Allyn was his unconditional love, commitment, and devotion to his family.  He was his family’s core, strength, and hero.  He was determined that his daughters would be the first children to graduate from college and inspired them to take risks while standing beside them to celebrate wins graciously and courageously hold their heads high no matter what life brought their way.  Allyn taught them to have a “no fear” attitude to get things done and to never, never give up.   He was their life coach and was the model of kindness, respect, and love.

To know Allyn was to love him. His charismatic energy is why people were drawn to him.  He wore a genuine, contagious smile, had a great sense of humor, and made friends easily. His friendships were for life.  Allyn had the innate ability to notice others in need and never hesitated to offer anything he had that could help make someone’s life better if even for a moment. He believed in the best of everyone.  His handshake closed the deal, and you could trust in “his word” just as the sun rises and sets every day.

Allyn had a full life. He enjoyed working and playing hard. His idle moments were few and far between. He would spend hours working on his garden and sharing his bounty with others. He was a natural at cattle ranching and kept his pastures immaculate. At weddings, private dances and dancehalls across the county, Allyn was a sought partner. Also, he enjoyed casino trips, fishing outings, attending most all of his children’s and grandchildren’s activities, watching and attending Astros baseball games and Texans football games, playing dominoes and cards while sharing a cold beer with family and friends.

Allyn was an athlete to be admired. He was a great pitcher and wanted to play pro baseball. His family did not have the resources for him to go to the “pro” tryouts, which was a huge let down for him.  Fast pitch softball became a favorite pastime whether he was playing for company teams or coaching his daughters’ teams.  With the support of his wife cheering him on and his youngest daughter as the “bat girl”, he coached girls’ softball teams for 11 plus years.

Allyn’s surviving loving family include: his beloved wife of 65 years, Lillie Mae; children: Dinah Meischen, Brenda Vitek with husband Dr. Carl Vitek, and Tammy Meischen; grandchildren:  Dr. Cristin Vitek Wafer with husband Dr. Kevin Wafer and Michael Ryan Vitek with wife Shannon Vitek; great grandchildren:  Elijah Jude Wafer and Sophie Claire Vitek; sister-in-law, Betty Meischen of Cypress, Texas; and sister, Judy Meischen Deininger with husband Butch Deininger of Washington, Illinois.

Allyn is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Alice Mae Meischen; his father and mother-in-law, Arthur and Dessie (Rinn) Peschel; and his brother, Will Louis Meischen.

Viewing will be at Memorial Oaks Chapel on Friday, April 8, 2022 from 7 am to 7 pm with visitation from 5 pm – 7 pm.  The funeral service will be on Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 11 am at Industry United Methodist Church, 1914 Main Street, Industry, TX 78944.  The funeral service will be streamed live beginning at 10:50 at the Industry United Methodist Church’s Facebook page.

Serving as Pallbearers will be Michael Vitek, Kevin Wafer, Jerry Thompson, Brit Walker, Ronnie Peschel, and Blake Meischen. Honorary Pallbearers are Scott Meischen and Benny Davis.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Tammy Meischen’s honor to Reach Unlimited, 11832 Mueller Cemetery Rd, Cypress, TX 77429.  Reach is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing support services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  Donations can also be made to the Industry United Methodist Church, PO Box 86, Industry, TX 78944.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Memorial Oaks Chapel, 1306 W Main St, Brenham, TX 77833, 979-836-4564, www.MemorialOaksChapel.com.