Dr. Francis Xavier Meier
February 24, 1924 ~ March 13, 2025
Born in:
Georgetown, Missouri
Resided in:
Jefferson City, Missouri
Dr. Francis Xavier Meier, 101, of Jefferson City, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Heisinger Bluffs in Jefferson City.
He was born February 24, 1924, in Georgetown, Missouri, the son of Frank Herman and Emma Josephine (Schmidt) Meier.
He was a 1942 graduate of Smith Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri.
Dr. Meier joined the United States Navy Reserve after the first semester of college under the V12 program for students in pre-med. Because of a shortage of doctors during WWII, he was able to take a test at the end of his third semester of college, passed it, and was able to join the US Navy on July 1, 1943, to March 16, 1946. The Navy paid for his medical training at St. Louis University starting in November of 1943. In 1947, five years after graduating from high school, he graduated from St. Louis Medical School. He served as US Navy Ensign from July 1, 1943 to March 16, 1946, then was put on inactive duty.
From 1947-1948, he interned at St. John’s Hospital in St. Louis then served a 1-year residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Jefferson City. In 1949, he joined Dr. Julian Ossman in private practice in Jefferson City and married L. Jean Meier on July 9, 1949.
On February 28, 1951, he was recalled into the Navy due to the Korean War. The first year he served as Lieutenant Junior Grade ship doctor on a Navy transport Atlantic division based out of New York City, NY. The following year he was the senior medical officer for the examining center in Kansas City, MO.
In 1952, he rejoined Dr. Ossman in private practice. He was designated St. Mary’s Hospital Baby King for three years for delivering the most babies. He delivered a total of 213 babies in 1960. He was named Physician of the year in 1968 and served as St. Mary’s Staff President in 1968. He retired from practice in July of 1998.
He was a member of the Cathedral of St. Joseph, American Medical Association, Southwest Medical Society, and the Cole County Medical Society. He was on the staff of both St. Mary’s Hospital and Memorial Hospital. He was a member of the Executive Committee of St. Mary’s Medical Staff and was President the year they voted to allow Osteopaths to join the staff at St. Mary’s. In 1984, he received an award for exceptional service from St. Mary’s Medical Staff.
Dr. Meier enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, bowling, playing cards and board games, and most of all spending time with his family. He always had a new joke to tell his friends when he saw them.
Survivors include seven children, Hurley (Gayle) Meier of Portland TX; Susan Meier of Jefferson City, MO; Sandra Meier of Russellville, MO; Margaret Meier of Jefferson City, MO; Julia (Thomas Ladner) Meier of Tulsa OK; Matthew (Rebecca) Meier of Lake St. Louis, MO; Joseph (Melanie) Meier of Merrimack, NH; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Loretta Jean Meier on August 7, 2009; and two daughters, Mary Kristie Meier on Jan. 24, 1985 and Jean Marie Meier on March 1, 2023.
A private family Mass of Christian Burial was held at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with the Rev. Stephen Jones officiating. Entombment was held at Resurrection Catholic Mausoleum.
Memorials are suggested to the Cathedral of St. Joseph Foundation.
Services entrusted to Trimble Funeral Homes – Jefferson City. trimblefunerals.com
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RIP, Sir. He was my Dr. in the 60’s & 70’s. He always had a smile to greet you and always a pleasant staff of caring people at his practice. Nothing but fond memories of him and those people in those early days of my growing up. My condolences to his family.
Mark Kempker, age 63, from Westphalia, now O’Fallon, Mo.
Our sincere sympathy to the family. Our family doctor from the 1960s through 1998 when he retired. Such a wonderful and caring person always enjoyed seeing him out eating lunch out and our conversations. May he rest in peace a life well lived.
I was a classmate of Susan and Sandy at St.Joseph’s and Helias. I was a frequent patient of Dr Meier with asthma. I am sorry to hear of his passing. He had a very matter of fact manner that I found very helpful. I’m glad he had a long life. May his memory be a blessing.
My sincere condolences to Dr. Meier’s Family. As a next door neighbor during my high school years I witnessed first-hand Dr. Meier’s commitment to his family, and to his patients (making house-calls when medically beneficial), and to his farm. To this day, I’ve never encountered a harder worker with his energy level. He was truly an amazing representative of the Greatest Generation.
Sandy and Susan,
What a nice obituary, and how lucky you were to have your dad for so many years!
Your dad really made a difference in so many people’s lives.
Cherish all your memories.
JoAnn Rustemeyer Welch