William "Bill" Anthony Meilner

1929-2012
William (Bill) Anthony Meilner, 83 of Pensacola passed away Monday, May 28, 2012. Mr. Meilner was born on February 10, 1929 in South Bend, IN. He grew up in South Bend, and was a tool and die maker or a machinist as the trade became to be known as.

He left South Bend when he was 28 to help a friend move a Yacht to south Florida. The boat had to stop along the way for repairs in Pensacola where he then decided to live and work the rest of his life. After some years as a successful Yacht Captain, he met the love of his life, Janie Coats of Pensacola and they were married in 1963. Bill and Janie lived on Pensacola Beach for 42 years until hurricane Ivan convinced them otherwise. His habit of precision, detail, and perfection made him a highly regarded Yacht Captain of the area until he retired from the yachts after 35 years. During and after his career on the water, he developed a compass repair and adjustment business that he did for the rest of his life.

He became a standard of excellence and exactness in the yachting community for compass restoration, recondition, and recalibration. Bill's same attention to detail made him an accomplished professional photographer. He truly loved his photography. Mostly people recognize Bill as their photographer at either Pensacola Beach or Fiesta organizations as the Mayoki Indians. Bill was an active member of the Fiesta organization Mayoki Indians for 37 years and the Krewe of Lafitte for 25 years. He was a long term member of Pensacola Yacht Club. He never missed his social lunch every Friday with his friends at the Yacht Club reviewing his Yachting adventures throughout the Bahamas, the Florida Keys and Caribbean. Bill was a lifelong Lutheran and was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church since he moved to Pensacola in 1959. His faith shaped and guided his life. Bill was a man of many talents. He will be missed by all that knew and loved him.

His mother, Elizabeth and father, Roy Meilner; two brothers, Bill and Johnny; and sister, June Corr preceded Bill in death.

He is survivors by his wife of 47 years, Janie (Coats) Meilner of Pensacola; brother, David and his wife Gail of Lafayette, IN and a nephew Darrid Meilner of Chicago, IL.

A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00pm on Friday, June 1, 2012 at Immanuel Lutheran Church with Pastor Randy Blankschaen officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Joyce Goldenberg Hospice Inpatient Residence, 10075 Hillview Road, Pensacola, FL 32514.

A special thanks to the entire staff at Joyce Goldenberg Hospice. Their compassion and professionalism is beyond description.

HARPER-MORRIS MEMORIAL CHAPEL is in charge of arrangements. Express your condolences in our guestbook at pnj.com/obits

Published by the Pensacola News Journal on May 31, 2012.

07/15/2023 EJS

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/pensacolanewsjournal/name/william-meilner-obituary?id=19351743