Elmond Frank Meinardus

Elmond Frank Meinardus, 91, died on May 16, 2016 in his home in Angleton. Elmond was born June 23, 1924 on a farm in Walhalla to Charles and Rosa (Wozniak) Meinardus. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years Ellen, his parents; brothers Emanuel, Henry and Willie, sisters; Elizabeth Polasek and Cecilie Vaclavik. He is survived by his daughter Norma “Jean” Duncan and husband, Frank; three grandchildren: Yvonne Hanen and husband John of Dover, Tenn.; Frank Hart Jr. and wife Denise of Austin, Rose Westerman and husband Charles of Austin; numerous great-grandchildren and one great great grandson; two sisters: Felicia Chovanec and Sophronie Golleher both of La Grange and numerous nieces and nephews. Elmond and Ellen (Chovanec) were married Jan. 8, 1946 and lived on the Meinardus farm. Times were very hard and after several different jobs mostly in Central Texas they moved to El Campo. He started working for River Brand Rice Mills Inc. on Sept. 4, 1948 as Floorman and advanced as a Hullerman and Miller. The El Campo facility closed and he  was transferred to the Houston Mill in 1967. His career lasted 40 years, and the Mill’s name changed to Riviana Foods Inc. During his career he received two patents. One named “Apparatus for Removal of Bran from Rice and like Cereal Grains” in 1984 and “Method of Removing Bran from Cereal Grains” in 1985. His inventions are used in approximately thirty countries around the world. Although he contracted polio twice in childhood he never let it defeat him. He had a strong will and determination all his life. After retiring in 1987 he started his second career in ranching and remained a rancher until his death. Services were held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Friday, May 20, 2016 at 2 p.m. Serving as Pallbearers were Lesley Meinardus, Michael Chovanec, John Hanen, T. C. Lipe, Les Hendershot and Corey Christian.