Joyce E. Meeks, 85, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, January 21, 2026.
She was born May 24, 1940 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Lester and Alma (Hansche) Buerge. After her mother passed away when Joyce was 3 weeks old, she was raised by her grandmother, aunt and cousin.
Joyce moved to Missouri in 1958, where she met and married Gerald Melkowski. They later divorced but remained friends. She later married Jerry Meeks, who preceded her in death in 1988.
She worked at Southwestern Bell for numerous years, then was a Certified Nurse’s Aide at Methodist Hospital, then Heartland Health and Hope House.
Joyce was solid in her faith. She was a member of Green Valley Baptist Church, Marvin McMurry United Methodist Church, and then Huffman Memorial United Methodist Church.
Joyce enjoyed gardening and tending to her houseplants, and loved spending time with family. She also was an avid Royals fan and angel collector.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Gerald Melkowski; second husband, Jerry Meeks; and longtime companion, Dan Chilcoat.
Survivors include her children, Anthony Melkowski (Midge), Antonette Helm, Celeste Barrett (Bob), Jennifer Morris (Robert), Damian Melkowski (Michele), and Robin Burton (Mike); 12 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and cousins, Norma Foster and Rosemary Slater.
Farewell Services and Public Livestream 1:00 P.M. Thursday, January 29, Huffman Memorial United Methodist Church. Interment Mount Olive Cemetery, Troy, Kansas. The family will gather with friends 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 28, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society or Freudenthal Hospice.
