John Anthony Meister, 94, of Grand Island died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, at Good Samaritan of Grand Island.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Celebrant will be the Rev. Marty Egging. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the church, with a vigil service at 6. All Faiths Funeral Home is serving the family.

Mr. John Meister was born Feb. 5, 1923, in Greeley County to Peter and Mary (Nealon) Meister. John grew up and received his education at Elsie, Neb. On Aug. 28, 1944, he married Patricia Ann Nealon in O'Conner, Neb., at the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Following their marriage they farmed in Greeley County before moving to Grand Island in 1953. John owned and operated Meister Brothers Sand and Gravel with his brothers. He then worked for Hall County Highway Department for 15 years until his retirement.
John was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Eagles and Knights of Columbus. A talented musician, John could play nearly any instrument. He and two of his brothers comprised "Meister Brothers Band," playing bluegrass music at nursing homes and hospitals throughout central Nebraska for a number of years.
Those left to cherish his memory include his nine children, Mary Ann (Ron) Garver of Saratoga, Wyo., John (Patti) Meister, Tom Meister, Robert Meister (Jean Mohnike), Frank (Donna) Meister, Renee (Kerry) McGrath and Jim (Tracy) Meister, all of Grand Island, Maggie (John) Iliff of Leesburg, Fla., and Annette Dugan of Lincoln; a sister, Anna "Annie" Maser of Green River, Wyo.; sisters-in-law, Esther "Sally" Meister of Grand Island, Lois Ann Meister of Grand Island and Eileen Meister of Laramie, Wyo.; and brothers-in-law, Leonard Deschene of Windsor, Colo., and Gene Nelson of Cheyenne, Wyo.

He is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia; infant daughter, Jeannette; parents; brothers, William, Francis, James and Robert; sisters, Marie Smollen, Marguerite "Marcy" Deschene, Emma "Bobbie" Kratczik and Roberta "Berkie" Nelson; son-in-law, John Dugan Jr.; and great-great-grandchild, Ruxten Patrick Meister.
Memorials are suggested to Central Catholic Schools or Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church