Lon Hackett Minier, 76, of Pendergrass, Georgia, died June 18, 2016, at the hospital in Gainesville, Georgia, after complications associated with esophageal cancer.
A memorial service will be held July 16, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of Ward's Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
He was born June 21, 1939 in Brookings, South Dakota, the sixth child of Marcia (Hackett) and Earl Frederick Minier. He received his education in the Brookings Schools, graduated from Brookings High School in 1957, and enlisted in the National Guard at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. He enrolled at South Dakota State University, pursuing a degree in printing and journalism, graduating in 1967. He worked in the newspaper and printing industry for most of his life. Lon was an avid outdoorsman who loved to golf, hunt and fish. He also loved card games of all types – spending countless hours playing poker, hearts, spades, and bridge. He also loved sports, especially Atlanta Braves baseball and Tennessee Vols football. He is widely known by friends and family for making the world’s best beef jerky and pumpkin seeds and for filling their time together with love and laughter.
In 1961 he married Judith Ann Paradise in Brookings SD. Lon and Judy had four children and were divorced in 1984. In 1984, Lon married Rita Sue McGee in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Mark and Gene Minier both lost in World War II and one sister, Marian Minier Gustafson.
He is survived by his wife Sue Minier as well as numerous children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Sons: Earl Thomas (Jean) Minier of Godfrey IL, Mark Francis (Kimberly) Minier of Alton IL, Jeffrey Lon (Sheron) Minier of O'Fallon MO. Daughter Suzanne (Adam) Nolte of Terre Haute IN. Stepson Rick Adams (Jane) of Chattanooga TN. Grandchildren: Aaron and Brandon Adams of Chattanooga TN, Samantha Spawn of Sioux Falls SD, Mallory Minier of Marco Island FL, Sarah and Samuel Minier of Godfrey IL, John Paul, Adelaide, Elizabeth, Mary Grace and James Nolte of Terre Haute IN, and Cecelia Genevieve Minier of Alton IL. Great grandchildren Emerson Newcomb-Weiland of Sioux Falls SD, and twins Kaylee and Kylee Adams of Chattanooga TN. He is also survived by two sisters, Barbara Mitchell of California, Marlene (Maynard) McDonald of Texas, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Online condolences may be made to wardsfh.com Ward's Funeral Home, 758 Main Street, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.
