Albert V. Meilstrup

May 4, 1917. - Aug. 4, 1998

Albert Victor Meilstrup, 81, of Sunnymede Avenue, South Bend, Ind., died at 2:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4th, in the Fountainview Place Nursing Home, Mishawaka, Ind. Al was born in South Bend to Bernard and Elizabeth Meilstrup on May 4, 1917.

Al married the former Eunice Bock in South Bend on June 14, 1941. Eunice survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Susan (Bruce) VanDerBeek of Mishawaka; two sons, Ronald' V. (Elyce) Meilstrup of Gurnee, IlI., and Thomas A. (Ruth Ann) Meilstrup of Mishawaka; and by six grandchildren, Matthew, Mitchell, Andrew, Amanda, Malinda and David.

Mr. Meilstrup was the owner of Ace Refrigerated Trucking Service, Inc., Albert V. Meilstrup, IMTA'S (Indiana Motor Truck Association) president in 1984, got his start in the trucking industry while attending high school in South Bend. Nights after school he worked as a billing clerk for Denny Motor Transfer. He stayed on with Denny for two years after graduation in 1935, and then went to Associated Truck Lines in South Bend as a rate clerk and dispatcher. After a year with ATL he became chief clerk and office manager for the National Carloading Corporation in South Bend.

Two years later, in 1940, he was hired by Tucker Freight Lines as Chicago terminal dispatcher and office manager. He transferred back to South Bend in 1942 as operations manager, a position he held for six years. He met his future wife, Eunice, while at Tucker. Mr. Meilstrup left the trucking industry for two years to become manager of Tire Service Company in South Bend.

In 1950 he had returned to trucking, working as a commercial agent for Commercial Motor Freight, Inc., of Indiana. A year later he went to Mercury Motorways as manager of operations and customer relations, serving eight terminals. In 1955 he was promoted to vice-president and general manager. Then, in 1959, Mercury was purchased by B & P. Motor Express.

Meilstrup then made a major decision. He chose not to stay with B & P and started Meilstrup Cartage Company in June 1959 and, in 1960, Ace Refrigerated Trucking Service was formed - a family business with wife, sons, daughter and son-in-law pitching in. He felt he had the experience necessary to start his own company. Those first operating permits were bought from Drummey Cartage ón a lease-option plan, becoming a local agent for "Courier Express'* and Holland Motor Freight. In 1960, operating permits for meat delivery were purchased and the business expanded.

A new terminal was acquired in 1963. In the same year he bought the South Bend Fish Corporation which he operated until 1978, along with King Tutt Cold Storage. Always actively involved in the industry, Mr. Meilstrup received the Pioneer Award and served as secretary of the South Bend Transportation Club, president of the Northern Indiana Motor Carriers Association, and served on the National Labor Relations Board. He was a member of ATA's Interstate Carriers Conference, and served on its board of directors from 1977-78.

He served as chairman of IMTA's Local and Short Haul Carrier Division, and served on IMTA's executive board of directors. He was a member of the National Perishable Conference. In 1960, he served as the first chairman of the Mayor's Citizens Traffic Commission in South Bend. He has been a vice-president and director of the South Bend Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of South Bend, and Masonic Lodge 294.

In 1956, when the Northern Indiana Toll Road opened, Mr. Meilstrup served as co-chairman of the Toll Road Committee, representing the transportation industry. He has been involved in many other activities, too numerous to mention, but indicative of a full life, both professionally and personally.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Forest G. Hay Funeral Home. Mr. Meilstrup's funeral service will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7th, in the Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, with Rev. Don Neely officiating. Cremation will follow.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Joseph County or to the Diabetes Association of St. Joseph County

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

09/09/2025 EJS