Ken Meisinger

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

Kenneth, “Ken”, Meisinger passed from this life to eternal rest on Wednesday, November 6, after a long battle with cancer. He was born to a farm family between Plattsmouth and Louisville, Nebraska, on December 9, 1948. Father, Arnold Jacob Meisinger, Mother, Mildred Lenore Murray-Meisinger, older brother, Larry Edward, all preceded Ken in death. Ken was also preceded in death by his wife, Mary Elizabeth Palmer-Glaves. Ken’s son, Aaron, survives with his family in Drayden, Maryland.

Ken was the first of his family to pursue his education beyond high school. He was a 1966 graduate of Plattsmouth High School. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1970 from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln; a Master of Music degree in tuba performance in 1978 from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, and a Diploma of Fine Arts in wind band conducting from the University of Calgary – Alberta, Canada, in 1986.

He met and married Elizabeth Palmer-Glaves, at his first teaching position in Rock Port, Missouri. Elizabeth brought her son, Aaron Bradford, to the marriage and they became a family. Throughout their marriage work took them all over the world. Starting at age 13, Ken spent his working life as a performing musician, music educator, and arts administrator, playing with such groups as the Double B Polka Band, the Little Oom-pahs, Sparta Band, the University of Nebraska marching band, the University of Nebraska Faculty Brass Quintet, the Westport Brass Quintet, the Kansas City Civic Orchestra, the Riverside Jazz Band, the Fort Smith Symphony, and John Philip Tuba’s Wun’erful Won’erband at Worlds of Fun Amusement Park. His last performing position was Music Director and Conductor of the Ozark Festival Orchestra of Monett, Missouri.

Ken was a beloved educator and brought his knowledge across the globe, teaching in many places including Blue Springs, Odessa, Joplin, and Kansas City, Missouri; Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Southern Maryland. His last teaching position was at the American International School in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While teaching at SAIS-Riyadh, he regularly presented workshops in such places as Nairobi, Cairo, Delhi, Bangkok, and Kuala Lampor. He also presented lecture-demonstrations on the influence of Native Ethnic Music on Military Bands of the Third World at the biennial conferences of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Kerkrade, Netherlands and Hamamatsu, Japan.

Upon returning to the United States in 1997, he and Elizabeth settled in Joplin, Missouri, where they taught private music lessons. They also served for five years as Co-Executive Directors of Pro Musica, a not-for-profit corporation, that presented World Class Chamber Music Ensembles, Symphonies and Opera to the local area residents.

In 2020, Ken moved to Lexington Park, Maryland, to be near his family. Ken is survived by his son, Aaron, Daughter-in-Law, Jenny, and their fraternal twins Fiona Grace and Lila Marie; as well as two grandchildren, Ian Alexander and Katia Teagan.

Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary of Joplin, Missouri, is in charge of final arrangements. Burial will be in the Palmer Family plot next to his wife Elizabeth at Lake Memorial Cemetery in Lamar, Missouri. The service will be held at Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary at 602 Byers Avenue in Joplin, Mo. on November 23rd at 1:00 p.m. Please send no flowers. 

In lieu of flowers, Pop Pop (as called by his grandchildren) has requested that donations be sent to a local community theatre that brought him joy through many performances. Memorial gifts in Ken’s name should be directed to the Newtowne Players, P. O. Box 1491, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653, or www.newtowneplayers.org/donate.