Thomas Melvin Meckler

Thomas Melvin Meckler, 69, Bismarck, North Dakota, passed away Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at St. Alexius Medical Center, Bismarck. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, June 10, 2013, at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan. There will be a gathering of friends and family from 3-5:00 PM, Sunday, June 9th at DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan. Burial will be in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Because Tom loved life and loved others, his wish was to be a donor whenever his passing came. This great gift he gave of himself will help over 50 others. Cremation has taken place. Tom was born June 13, 1943, in Bismarck, to Jacob and Ernestine (Carufel) Meckler. He graduated from Bismarck High School in 1961. He served in the US Army after attending Bismarck Junior College. Following the Army he attended UND and eventually worked for Senator Quinton Burdick as Capital Security Police in Washington DC. He moved to Fargo and married Donna Snider where he worked for the Fargo Police Department for over 21 years as a patrol officer and detective sergeant. He graduated from NDSU and was an avid Bison fan. He retired from the Fargo Police Department in 1994 and moved to Bismarck. Thomas worked for AKAL Security and was a court security officer at the Federal Building until his death. He married Kathleen Madsen in Taylor, North Dakota at the Horse Fest, on July 29, 1995. Tom is survived by his wife, Kathleen, Bismarck; three daughters, Ann (Tadd) Bartley, Richmond, Virginia, Sheila Fuhrman, Bismarck, and Julie Fuhrman (Dan Cieslak), Sioux Falls, South Dakota; three sons, Brian Meckler (Tracy Konickson), Fargo, Dion Fuhrman and Paul Fuhrman, both of Bismarck; four sisters, Marilyn (Rod) Ouren, University Place, Washington, Sharon Butler, Bellevue, Washington, Carrie (Monty) Van Hoy, Lake Forest Park, Washington, and Terri (Jeff) Frank, Bismarck; one brother, Dennis Meckler, Bloomington, Indiana; four grandchildren, Tiara and Julianna Fuhrman, and Charlotte and Harrison Bartley; mother-in-law, Bette Gehring, Prescott, Arizona; and numerous nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Shrine Hospital Children's Transportation Fund, PO box 792, Bismarck, ND 58502.