Florene Meins Wiltz

City of Clarendon, the county seat of Monroe County in Arkansas was the birthplace of Florene Meins Wiltz, February 25, 1954 and was the 8th child given by our Lord to her parents; Leon and Florence (Moss) Meins.We reflect:

Psalm 127:3 NIV - Children are a heritage from the LORD,offspring a reward from him.

Florene’s specialness came about during her infancy. She received penicillin as an antibiotic, and it was not learned that Florene was extremely allergic to penicillin and this allergy leftpermanent effects. Challenges or not, God blessed Florene with a rich measure of friendliness and happiness that could not be contained.

“Hiiiiiiii!!!!” Can you hear her? If you knew her well, this totally rings in your mind loud and clear. She may spot you in Wal-Mart, Scavuzzo’s, McDonalds or the gas station and you would hear, “Oh, Hiiiiii”.

“Oh, I’m justt fine!”Florene was never complaining and always happy to see you and gladly greeting everyone with a smile, this was Florene Meins Wiltz. Incredibly independent, proud, hardworking, strong willed and never wanting help, this is the true Meins way and Florene came by it naturally. Don’t you expect she maybe even greeted Jesus that way? “Oh, Hiiiiii…………”

Yes, oh how she loved Jesus…. But truly,how MUCH more, Jesus loved her!!! Florene Meins Wiltz was born again in washing and rebirth of the water and the God’s Word when Baptized into Jesus Christ her Savior in the Summer of 1962, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Grandview Missouri. She was age 8.

As a farmer’s daughter, Florene worked on the farm, helping her momma at home, and doing chores. Moving to Missouri, they had a stop in Grandview, but found Home to be at the Barr (later Petree) Ranch in Dayton, Missouri area. This land has now become Missouri conservation land near the Grand River.

Florene attended school at Choctaw – one room schoolhouse – in Dayton, Missouri and furthered her education at Sherwood with Mrs. Roberta Allen as her teacher. She held several jobs through the years to include Casco Area Workshop, as her mother Florence Meins was a charter partner in the creation of the Casco workshop. Florene worked in the housekeeping department of the ‘original’ Cass Medical Center, took in ironing at her home and cleaned several homes, business and clubs in Harrisonville and always walking to them all.

Many knew Florene but may not realize it or have known her name. Florene, in adult years, could very often be spotted walking through Harrisonville, as she was driven by her desire to do everything herself. She would walk from her home at Oaks Mobile Home Court to the City Hall to pay her utility bill, and back to the bank or the hardware store before finding her way home. Yet, she may need some milk, and off to the grocery or drugstore she would walk and always hoofing it, never on a bicycle. Friends and family slow on the city street to say “Hi” and offer a lift, ‘Hiiiiiii’ she’d say “no, go on ahead, I like to walk, I’m just fine, go on ahead” and Florene would walk her bag of groceries and milk home. She was so excited when the City put in new sidewalks down Commercial Street because she just knew they were put in for her. In the 80’s Florene was active in Community events as a volunteer. She’d work beside many others in helping park cars at the City Park for the 4th of July festivals. Also, when Log Cabin days were in high gear, she’d be helping there too with traffic or parking cars and in any way needed.

Florene had many loves. She more than enjoyed family reunions and loved ‘old-time rock & roll’. She’d dance like no one was there but her and Elvis and we loved her zeal of dancing to the Twist, the Chicken dance and the YMCA. Florene loved eating fish, fried shrimp, a bowl of chili from Wendy’s, a McDonalds fish sandwichor strawberry shake, vanilla ice creamand a good ‘baked tayta with sour cream’. She always drank ‘iced tea with no sugar’, coffee was taken blackand she was in church whenever the doors were open to receive Jesus gifts and hear the Good News of Jesus’ love for her and all people.

You could nearly always find sitting right beside her in the pew was, her true love, best friend, helpmate and fiancé, Sonny Wilson. Her heart was full when riding with him in his truck anywhere they wanted to go. They’d ‘cruise’ the city lake and watch the geese, take in an episode of Andy and Barney on TV, catch a couple garage sales and ooh and awe over the Christmas lights on all the homes through the season as they toured Harrisonville. They would talk through everything, even that Sonny wanted to go home to Jesus first and she would follow. Sonny’s love was reflected in his huge giving heart. Sonny’s help to Florene and her siblings with handling yard care, small errands and helping sometimes to attend doctor visits blessed everyone involved.

Florene loved to ‘go’ whether it was thrift store shopping or the monthly gather with the Jolly 60’s Bunch at the New Covenant Fellowship in Garden City or the occasional trip the “Ozarks”, which included maybe a show at Branson and Silver Dollar City where she could dive into a Funnel Cake – one of her favorite things. Though it was always fun to go, Florene was a simple lady and she could not wait to get back home. Home is where her heart was, she liked to be home and isn’t that truly where she is now, she’s home in heaven with Jesus, her Savior.

Special was Florene, but February 25 was especially joyful as her birthday was the same as her father, Leon Meins. They most always celebrated together over a bucket of Kentucky Fried.

Florene is now perfect in heaven with her Savior Jesus. We celebrate Florene’s body is no longer affected by the long-term troubles of hepatitis, liver failure, breast cancer or even the struggles of other limitations. Florene always enjoyed being busy, staying involved and being a servant to help others. Happy to help was what she was. Before sickness weakened her flesh, she was mowing her grass, raking her yard, cleaning at church, making cookies for others, painting her deck, walking to Obie’s car wash for a quick visit and always paying her own way, never wanting to be a trouble to anyone.

Florene was called home by Jesus, Thursday, December 3, 2020, Belton Regional Medical Center, Belton, Missouri. Florene was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, Harrisonville, Missouri.

She is preceded in death by her parents Leon & Florence (Moss) Meins and one sister, Barbara Meins Gunnerson, one brother-in-law Don Riggs and two nephews, Alvin Kirkemier, Anton Meins and two great nieces, Chloe Meins, Miranda Meins.
Florene enjoyed being a part of her large family. She is one of 10 children.Leon & Florence were blessed with 5 girls and 5 boys and Florene was child number 8. Florene leaves her sister Gladys (Lester) Kirkemier, Arkansas and William “Bud” Meins, Texas and Dorothy Riggs, Harrisonville and Dillard (Carol) Meins, Garden City and Lanny (Toni) Meins, Ava and Ronnie (Judy) Meins, Garden City and Dale (Nita) Meins, Louisiana and Dana Yoder, Garden City. Through these brothers and sisters she also leaves her nieces, nephews, and greats adding up to about 78 in all.

Florene had a special love for Sonny Wilson. Hear heart was devoted in love for her best friend, companion and fiance’. Their love was a gift to each other in so many ways and in a way many never experience. Florene leaves Sonny with her love and awaits Sonny’s arrival in heaven.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Dayton Cemetery near Garden City, Missouri.

Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at the funeral home.

Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or the Dayton Cemetery Association.