Karynn "Kae" Meike

It is with such sadness that we must announce the passing of Karynn "Kae" Meike, beloved mother, grandmother, and friend. She passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in her home on August 27, 2024, at the age of 78. 

 Kae was born on November 8, 1945, to Mildred Burry and Charles Clifford Middleton in Scottsbluff NE. She primarily resided with her mother and two older sisters, one of whom was like a mother and best friend to her. They moved often growing up, living in Fort Collins, Greeley, Broadwater NE, Buffalo WY and Sterling Colorado where she graduated high school then married her first husband Harrold Lee Meike in 1963. They had two children, Scot and Kami. During their 11 years of marriage, she and her husband managed the Meike family Ranch in Sussex. After divorce she moved to Buffalo where she owned and managed a flower shop for a handful of years tending to exotic and familiar plants and flowers, while raising her two children. In 1978 she married her second husband Gary Robert Skiles, who was a lifetime friend of hers that had lived just down the street from her growing up. For many years, those two ranched in Rock River, where together they rehabilitated several stock ponds for trout and helped revive the deer population. By 1984 they had moved onto managing the VR ranch outside of Glenrock WY. For 20 years those two were stewards of the land earning numerous awards for their ability to operate the VR ranch efficiently while respecting the delicate balance between wildlife and cattle. A day didn't go by that she wasn't hard at work doing something, or tending to a need someone had. But more importantly Kae effortlessly turned any plot of land into a thriving garden. She’s what turned that farmhouse into a home for any and all that entered. Her and Gary traveled to many places over the years consulting and influencing a vast amount of people in the agricultural community. In her retired years shed picked up many crafts, baked and cared for her home, garden, family, friends and neighbors. 

She is survived by two children: Scot Meike and Kamera Meike, five grandchildren: Chad Meike, Amanda Meike-Hall, Nicole Wiitala, Cord Meike, Megan Wiitala, and 4 great grandchildren: Jasper, Damion, Saphira and Tavious, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins who will miss her dearly. 

Kae has touched all our lives in an extraordinary way, and it is never easy to find the perfect words to encapsulate someone’s existence, but I find comfort in the memories and the legacy she leaves behind. 

This beautiful woman, whom many of you knew as a friend, a confidante, and a pillar in your lives, was a woman of immense warmth and wisdom. To me, she was the family's storyteller, an ardent gardener, and the source of endless love and cookies. We have years of laughter, shared moments, and learned lessons. 

Born in a time that was tough on many, she was a beacon of strength and resilience. She witnessed changes throughout her life that many of us could only read about in history books. Her stories of struggle and triumph during those times not only educated me but filled me with admiration for the grace with which she embraced life’s challenges. 

As a grandmother, she was nothing short of a marvel. She had this unique talent for making each of her grandchildren feel like we were the center of her world. Whether it was a scraped knee, a broken heart, or a proud achievement, she knew exactly what to say and do to make things better. Her care was the kind of secret bandage that could heal the deepest cuts. 

Walking into my grandmother's house was like stepping into a sanctuary of love. Her kitchen was a place of great magic. I'm sure that many of you have tasted at least one of her popular pumpkin spice bars, cinnamon rolls, or her highly requested beef jerky. Each dish she prepared was imbued with the essential ingredients of her soul: love, generosity, and a sprinkle of her wicked sense of humor. 

She was an endless summer in a world that could often be cold and dark. Her gardens were a testament to her character, blossoming with colors and life even when the weather was bleak. I remember her teaching me the names of all the flowers, explaining the special care that each one needed in order to grow strong and uniquely beautiful – a subtle metaphor for the time and care she gave to each one of us throughout our lives. 

Holidays and family gatherings were her forte. She was the glue that bound us tightly together. During Christmas time, her home transformed into a workshop of sorts, filled with the aroma of cinnamon and butterscotch hard candy and the sounds of her humming along to the classic carols. Oh, the laughter and joy that was had, as we installed and average of 200 individual batteries in various music makers, and toys. Stringing the lights in places that accented the best parts of her home. She used to say that love was the glue that held our family together, and now, in this time of reflection, I can see how strong that bond is becoming because of her. 

Let's not forget her wisdom. I believe each of us here has been on the receiving end of her sage advice at least once. It was sometimes delivered with a gentle touch, other times with a straightforward honesty that could catch you off guard, but it was always what you needed to hear when you needed to hear it. There was a simple honesty to her wisdom, born of years of life well-lived and observed with caring eyes. She found joy in traveling the world taking note of the way people have preserved their history. Always fascinated with the architecture, clothing, food and dancing. She told stories of how kind the people were and how grand the greenery was that draped onside the castles. 

When the ailments of old age began to take their toll, she faced them with her memorable characteristics of grace, dignity and courage. Her strength during those times was quietly inspirational. She would smile through the pain, and her humor never waned. When asked how she was doing, she'd say, more times than I can count, "being mean and ornery!" with a big grin on her face. She lived life on her terms, and even in her final days, she displayed the same poise and concern for others she had shown throughout her entire life. 

Her life was a tapestry of love and a symphony of memories that will continue to resonate in our hearts. As we say goodbye, we carry those memories forward, wrapped in the comfort of her love that remains with us. I was honored and blessed by her presence, her love, her lessons, and even now, by the unity we experience in coming together to honor her memory. 

In closing, I'd like to share a few words that she lived by, 'Life is precious, and love is its greatest gift. Share it, cherish it, spread it, and the world will be a brighter place for it.' I invite you all to take a moment to share a memory or a story of how my beautiful grandmother lit up your life. 

Thank you, Kae, for everything. We will miss you immensely, but we take comfort in knowing that you will always be with us in the lessons you've taught us, and in the love you've shared. Farewell, until we meet again. 

Our family will be honoring her wishes by celebrating her life in a private spreading of her ashes as the western winds send her off to her final resting place.