Zane Paul Meis was born in Plainville, KS on September 23, 1957, to Gilbert and Theresa Meis. As the third of nine children, Zane enjoyed family camping and fishing trips taken from their home in Oakley, KS. Zane learned to hunt small game from a young age. It was in high school, working for a local lumber yard, that his love of crafting furniture and woodworking was born. His growing interest in history, government, and the military motivated him to enlist in the United States Navy his senior year of high school.
It was after graduation and enlistment that Zane met his beloved wife, Anna. The two were married on October 9, 1976, then moved to north Chicago where he trained to become Gunner Mate at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Stationed at Norfolk, VA, Zane was assigned to the USS Boulder, participating in the rescue of Cuban refugees trying to escape to the United States via boats, rafts, and innertubes. Zane would later be reassigned to the USS Iwo Jima that operated off the coasts of Italy, Spain, and France. After four years of service, Zane was honorably discharged in July 1980 at the rank of Gunner's Mate Second Class.
Upon separation, Zane went to work as a Section Hand for the Union Pacific Railroad, repairing tracks from Oakley on west. It was his work with the railroad that brought him and Anna to Cheyenne Wells, CO in August 1981. After a foot-crushing injury in the oil patch, Zane pursued higher education at Lamar Community College and HVAC technical training in Colorado Springs. Shortly after completion, Zane began work for the City of Cheyenne Wells and later at St. Joseph Hospital of the Plains, now Keefe Memorial Hospital. Beginning as a Maintenance Aid, Zane quickly became an integral part of hospital operations, assuming the role of Plant Manager and interim CEO for a time.
Zane and Anna had two sons, Mitchell James, and Jesse Wade. With his own wife and sons, he continued the tradition of hunting, fishing, and camping. The family often spent summer vacations traveling to the mountains, camping in areas from Colorado Springs to Yellowstone National Park.
In addition to his full-time work at the hospital, Zane cemented his legacy in the community by volunteering as a county EMT for twenty years and serving as treasurer and commander of the local VFW Post 9700. He furthered his involvement with local veterans by becoming the Cheyenne County Veteran's Service Office, working to help them with their benefit needs.
Zane was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, enjoying time at the lake with his son, Jesse, and family and visiting his son, Mitchell, and family in Germany and at various U.S. Air Force bases. His favorite fishing hole was any one that had fish in it. When he wasn't working, volunteering, or fishing, Zane spent his time woodworking, making hundreds of plaques and other projects to give as gifts and to sell at local craft shows.
Zane passed away at his home in Cheyenne Wells, CO on January 26, 2021. He leaves behind his wife and best friend, Anna Meis; sons Mitchell (Keri) and Jesse (Elizabeth), granddaughters Amiah, Natalee, and Abigail; as well as siblings Renee (Keith) Eilts (Hays, KS), Evelyn (Robert) Morton (Norman, OK), Noreen Lozano (Panama City, FL), Beth (Jack) Dahelite (Phoenix, AZ), Anita Meis (St. Joseph, MO), Timothy (Tresa) Meis (Raytown, MO) and Edward Meis (Topeka, KS) and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents, Theresa and Gilbert, and brother, Michael, and niece, Amber Meis Dennis. Memorial Contributions may be made to Zane Meis Memorial Fund c/o ECB; Box 888 Cheyenne Wells, CO 80810.