Arthur "Art" Mees, Sr.

Arthur John Mees Sr. passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Friday, August 25, 2023, in St. Louis, Missouri. Born on February 25, 1944, Art was a lifelong resident of St. Louis. He attended De Andreis High School and received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Louis University. He worked as an accountant for Emerson Electric for 40 years.

On June 15, 1968, he married his beloved wife Dianne, who preceded him in death on October 20, 2017. Art and Dianne lovingly raised eight children: Ann Garrido (Mike), Arthur John Mees Jr. (Anne), Janet Mees Reinert (Brett), Timothy Mees (Kathleen), Mary Mees Garsaud (Marcel), Stephen Mees (Maribeth), Katherine Weintraub (Jason), and Paul Mees (Jackie). 

Art was tirelessly committed to raising his children to be responsible, hard-working, loving, community-minded adults, who also knew how to have a good time. Saturdays were for cleaning the house, washing the windows, mowing the lawn, and raking the leaves. Broken items were to be fixed rather than thrown away. When the 1972 Volkswagen Beetle began to rust in the late 1980s, Art painted it a vibrant yellow–by hand. There was paint leftover, so the Radio Flyer red wagon also became bright yellow, and 20 years later the backyard swing set, an alley salvage, was transformed with a dazzling yellow paint job. 

Sundays and holidays were for creating fun traditions: bike rides, trips to the zoo, building “chicken houses” out of blocks in the basement, paper lanterns strung across the backyard for the Fourth of July, an outing every Christmas Eve while mom got the house ready for the nighttime festivities, and countless games of Hearts.   

Art and Dianne welcomed and adored all 17 of their grandchildren: Micah Garrido, Arthur John (A. J.) Mees III, Owen Mees, William Mees, Maxwell Reinert, Henry Reinert, Lily Reinert, Aubrey Mees, Daniel Mees, Amelia Garsaud, Marcel T. Garsaud, Oliver Mees, Teddy Mees, Aspen Weintraub, Ruby Weintraub, George Mees, and Charlie Mees. Art was a thoughtful and loving grandfather, never forgetting birthdays and achievements and attending every choir concert, school play, and graduation. And everyone of the grandchildren received a push on that shiny yellow swing set from “Grandpa Good Guy (GGG)”.  

Art’s love and commitment to family extended to his parents and siblings. He cared for his father Melbourne Mees, mother Katherine Studt Mees, sister Rita Mees, and brother William Mees, who all predeceased him. He and his youngest brother David Mees, who survives him, enjoyed monthly dinners together. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Phyllis Mees, Elaine O’Sullivan, and Carol Skillman; his brother-in-law Dan Skillman; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Art was an active member of his parish, Our Lady of Sorrows, and contributed many hours assisting with the church’s finances, serving as a lector and Eucharistic minister, and volunteering with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He also volunteered with Contemplative Outreach of St. Louis.

Art had many lifelong friends, with whom he and Dianne shared many adventures: picnics, mystery road trips, Christmas caroling, apple picking, square dancing, weekends at the Lake of the Ozarks, and season tickets to the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.

Art’s was a full life enriched with love, laughter, kindness, and joy. 

A Memorial Mass will be held in his honor at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church on Friday, September 1, 2023, at 6 p.m. The Mass will be followed by a gathering at Faenger Hall (just behind the church) beginning around 7:15 p.m. 

We would most love to continue his dedication to community support through donations to Our Lady of Sorrows Conference of St. Vincent de Paul (checks to OLS-St.Vincent de Paul, 5020 Rhodes Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109) and Lindenwood Area Senior Ministry (https://www.lasministry.org/donate-2).