Verlin (Vern) D. Meier, 85, of Fridley, born June 6, 1932 passed away peacefully June 12, 2017 after a four year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. The fifth and youngest child of Louis and Selma (Naab) Meier, Verlin grew-up on the family farm in Echo enjoying hunting and fishing and lettering as running back on the Echo High School football team. Drafted into the Army during the Korean War, he completed basic training in Colorado and California before being stationed in Landshut, Germany, serving with his unit at an outpost on the German/Czech border. Upon being honorably discharged as a corporal, he completed diesel mechanic school in Chicago and began his career as a large truck diesel mechanic there before moving to the Twin Cities where he continued until retirement. He was a member of Teamsters Local 120. Throughout his life he enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, traveling, camping, canoeing, polka music and dancing. He traveled with his special friend Patricia (Pat) Maher around the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe as well as several international ski trips with his brother, LeRoy. He was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Selma, brothers Harold and Harvey, sister Deloris (Kremin), sisters-in-law Elvira and Marcella, brother-in-law Orville, nephew Gary, great-nephew Brent and special friend and love Pat. He is survived and missed by his brother LeRoy; nine nieces and nephews; 25 great-nieces and -nephews; 32 great-great-nieces and -nephews; seven great-great-great -nieces and -nephews and many friends. Funeral services will be at the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Edina, 11 a.m., July 15. Visitation at 10 a.m. A private burial will take place at a later date in Echo. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Messiah Lutheran Church, Mounds View.