Michael Meese

We are mourning the loss of Michael R. Meese, age 56 of Dover, OH. Mike passed away suddenly and peacefully after a coronary incident in his home on Friday, January 19, 2018.

Mike was born in Massillon City Hospital on January 10, 1962. He was raised in Wilmot and was a 1980 graduate of Fairless High School and furthered his education at Stark State College, where he earned his degree in Electrical Engineering.

Mike was full of love and compassion. He retired from the Timken Company four years ago and really began living and loving his life. He had a deep love of music beginning from an early age playing banjo in Roselyn’s Accordion Band that continued to grow with his passion for the pedal steel guitar. He played with Code West, Broken Rein, Rodeo Drive and most recently The Hand Picked Band, The Hard to Tell band, and Wild Oats. He met many famous musicians throughout his lifetime, but no one as important to him as those he met every day of his life. Just as his playlist of songs was endless, his list of devoted and loving friends was longer still. Mike also had a great passion for fishing and being outdoors.

He leaves behind his precious, devoted and loving wife the former Tracy Sweaney, who was always by his side. Mike and Tracy were married in Hawaii over 26 years ago but were together much longer. Mike was very close to his family; his mother, Sally (Larry) Valentine of Massillon, his sisters: Molly Meese Romig of Massillon, Melissa (Steve) Clements of Canton and Katie (Tad) Decker of Carroll, Iowa; his step-mother, Marcella Meese of Wilmot; his grandmother, Mary Shook of Brewster; his mother-in-law, Adelaide Sweaney of New Philadelphia; his sisters-in-law, Alexis (Lenny) Boley of Carrollton, Deanna Sweaney and Georgia Sweaney both of New Philadelphia as well as his nieces and nephews.

Mike was predeceased by his father, Robert L. Meese.

Cherish your memories of Mike and let those warm your hearts as his melody lingers with us. Loving him was easy. Though we hate to say goodbye, friends and family may visit the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia on Tuesday, January 23 from 4-7 PM. An additional visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 24 from 10-11 AM in the funeral home’s chapel where Pastor Alan Christner will lead a celebration of Mike’s life beginning at 11 AM.