A gathering of family and friends, to honor and remember him, will be at Mike and Diane Meekins residence (off Moore Road, across from the fairgrounds) at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.
A memorial service will also be held June 14 at Sheep Mountain.
Mr. Meekin was born in Fond du Lac, Wis., on June 14, 1923. After graduation he served three years as an infantryman during World War II.
In 1946 he and his bride, Dorothy, traveled to Alaska and settled in the Sheep Mountain area. There they built and operated Meekins Lodge, home base for his game-guiding business and their six children.
Dorothy died in 1963. Mr. Meekin sold Meekins Lodge in 1969 and moved the operation to Mile 115 Glenn Hwy. As Alaska Wilderness Safaris, he continued to guide hunters and sightseers until 1999, when his health failed.
His family said: Austin was a larger-than-life sourdough, a passing breed in Alaska. His frontier stories held anyone within earshot spellbound, and left them looking forward to the next encounter. Every stranger was a friend, every friend precious to the patriotic outdoorsman. His family remembers a deeply caring man who enriched their lives beyond bounds.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy, in August 1963 and his oldest son, Austin F. (Ricky) Meekin III, in December 1968.
He leaves his companion of 15 years, Margaret (Peggy) Woods, of Henderson, Nev.; brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Joan Meekin, of Maryland; children and their spouses, Pamella Troutman, of Palmer, Mike and Diane Meekin, of Palmer, Steve and Beth Meekin, of Henderson, Nev., Jackie and Herb Simon, of Nelchina, and Mark and Donna Meekin, of Sheep Mountain.
He is also survived by his grandchildren: Michel and Sean Woods, of Anchorage; Kristopher and Erin Troutman, of Palmer; Samantha, Paisley, Meagan and Haley Meekin, of Sheep Mountain; Brandon, Stephanie and Mandy Meekin, of Nevada; Dorothy Meekin, of Sheep Mountain; and Lisa Scott, of Illinois; four great-grandchildren, and former wife, Marilyn Meekin, of Sheep Mountain.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be given to a charity of your choice.
