Joseph Meeko Obituary
Joseph John Meeko
Joseph John Meeko, 49, originally of North Catasauqua, PA, and presently of Herrickville, PA, died on December 8, 2009 at St. Lukes Hospital, Bethlehem, PA. Joe was a 78 graduate of Catasauqua High School, 80 graduate of Lehigh County Community College, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, North Catasauqua, and more recently had attended Herrickville Wesleyan and Hope Baptist Church in Herrickville. Joes accolades mainly stemmed from his outstanding heights reached in the sport of Bodybuilding. Joes most coveted titles are: 1984 Mr. America AAU in Pasadena, CA (1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner) and 1988 Mr. Universe AAU in Tuscon, Arizona (1st Place Heavyweight Class + Overall Winner, where Joe was at his best at 5 ft. 7-3/4, 235 lbs.). Many guest posings, autograph signings, photo shoots, seminars, other special events were to follow, not to mention his very own Welcome Home Parade held in Catty/North Catty! Joe trained many places, but he was usually found at Fitness America (Whitehall), Golds Gym (Bethlehem), or the Suburban North Y (Catasauqua), and to think all this started in peoples garages!Titles - Teenage Mr. Lehigh Valley Winner + All Body Parts and Best Poser titles; Teenage Mr. Atlantic Coast-1st Place Medium Class Winner + Overall Winner; Mr. Atlantic Coast-1st Place Novice Division Medium Class + Overall Winner; Mr. Eastern USA-1st Place Medium Class Winner + Overall Winner; Mr. Atlantic Coast-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner; 83-Mr. North America AAU-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner + All Body Parts and Best Poser titles; Mr. USA-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner; Mr. Pan-American-1st Place Heavyweight Class + Overall Winner; 84 Mr. Universe NABBA-2nd Place Medium Class; Mr. World-2nd Place; 87-Nationals NPC-10th Place Heavyweight Class; 87-USA Nationals NABBA-1st Place Medium Class + Overall Winner; 87-Mr. Universe NABBA-4th Place Medium Class; 87-World Championships NABBA-2nd Place Medium Class. Magazines - 84-Muscle Up-Aug. Vol. 6, No. 30; 84-Muscular Development-Dec. Vol. 21, No. 6; 85-Iron Man-Jan. Vol. 44, No. 2; 85-Health and Strength-Apr.; 88-Muscular Development-Jan. Vol. 25 No. 1. In Joes youth, he enjoyed many things: building things from mini-bikes and go-carts (where the family would participate in local Halloween parades), to building a hovercraft and hot air balloon with his Dad. Other interests were archery, BB guns, cars, guitar, swimming, always with his friends, Jr. bowling, Jr. baseball and wrestling (Dad coached), track (a record still holds for the 440 relay at CHS), football, and ultimately bodybuilding. Joes Dad was always involved in everything with Joe! Joes Mom was always with a camera (were thankful for all these movie/pix!!), and Diane was the cheerleader and PR person! As an adult, Joe was an entrepreneur, inventing and patenting Power Grip, a weightlifting device, over 25 years ago! Once again, Joes Dads involvement with PG was extensive, and now Val and Bob Barker from Avon, Indiana, hold and run that part of Joes Power Grip business, which will continue on. Joe also, at one time, designed and built personal helicopters, then started another business, Pyrotek, selling and putting on fantastic fireworks displays locally where he lived in Hunlock Creek, PA at the time. Joe was a very intuitive businessman, heating his own home with solar panels and using generators. Joe enjoyed his mountain, and he wishes to return there! Joe will always be remembered for that smile, his generosity, and his unselfish willingness to share his knowledge with anyone. Joe had the biggest heart ever! He loved everybody. Unfortunately he chose to internalize his pain, and if there is a lesson to be learned from Joes passing, it is simply that there is help for everyone, no matter what the circumstances, but you have to first recognize and want that help, and then get it! Survivors: Joe is survived by his Mother, Mary B. Meeko of North Catasauqua; his nephew/Godson, Zak Leddy (whom he called BUBBLE!) of North Catasauqua; his sister, Diane Meeko and her boyfriend, Ed Micklos of Umatilla, FL; his estranged wife, Lori Millen Meeko of Whitehall, PA; his alleged daughter Nichole Dreher Hainesl; and his alleged granddaughter, Zoe Haines, both of Walnutport. There are a certain few family members/friends who helped Joe tremendously throughout his life, and they know who they are. Joes former Manager/Photographer, Bob Gruskin, was also helpful in Joes career. Joe had a dear friend who named their first-born son Meeko, because Joe was such a good friend of their family in Nebraska. What an honor; a namesake! Many people were touched by Joes short life! Joe was predeceased by his Dad, Joseph Meeko, on June 4, 2005. Theyre together again! Services: A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 20, 2010, at 2 p.m. at the ODonnell Funeral Home, 1064 5th St., N. Catasauqua, PA 18032 (610-432-8522). Contributions: In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that any contributions continue to be made to the Joseph Meeko Memorial Track & Soccer Awards, which were originally started in Joes Dads memory upon his death in 2005. These awards benefit outstanding senior track sprinters and soccer defenders at Catasauqua High School. Joe (CHS Class of 78) and Diane (77) participated in track, and then Zak (04) in both track and soccer, & Joes Dad and Mom were both very avid fans of their family. The family may alter the name/criteria to include something pertaining more to community service/humanitarianism/community service, in Joes memory. ODonnell Funeral Home will handle the receipt of said contributions.There is a tremendous amount of information on Joe on the internet. The family is asking that you please sign Joes online Guest Book via The Morning Call (
www.mcall.com/obits; enter Joes name). God Bless You, Joe, Rest In Peace on Your Mountain. I remember when Joe Meeko killed himself, he was actually going to come up to my area and we were going to go to a friend's gym and train, it snowed that day so it never happened, he was soon dead. if he had come up , Who knows ? he lived a really isolated life off the grid and he became depressed after he contracted Lyme disease and his wife and he broke up after one of her assaults.
