Meisner Electric founder, Larry (Lawrence Robert) Meisner passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2018, at his home near Newton, Iowa at the age of 91.

Upon returning to Iowa after serving in the United States Navy during World War II, Larry Meisner attended the Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. After working for the Iowa Southern Utility Company, he started Meisner Electric in 1953 in the basement of his Newton home. Over the next 50 years, Meisner Electric Inc. grew to encompass large commercial and institutional projects across Iowa, throughout the Midwestern United States, and in Florida. Larry sold the Florida office in 1983 and later retired from the company he founded in 2004.

With his friend, Bill Yeager, Larry founded the Iowa chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors in 1974. Larry then turned over to ABC an apprentice training program that he had developed at Meisner Electric. Today, the Iowa Chapter of ABC is the seventh-largest chapter in the country, and it has the largest apprentice training program.

Larry was active in his community. He served on the Newton School Board and belonged to the Newton Jaycees. He was an avid sportsman and enjoyed golf, fishing and big-game hunting.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Edna. Besides a brother and three sisters, he leaves behind three children, including his daughter, Janet, and son-in-law, Tim Onnen, of Boynton Beach (Meisner Electric’s former owners), eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Up until 2016 Larry still visited Florida and was a welcome visitor to our office in Delray Beach. We are extremely proud to be part of his legacy. He will be deeply missed.