Ivan Meriac
April 28, 1932 - June 10, 2026

Ivan Meriac passed away on June 10, 2026 after a brief pulmonary illness.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Kathleen Cecilia Kelly Meriac of the home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jan and Agnes Meriac and his brother, Dusan Meriac. He is survived by his sister Nadine Breitenbacher of Tenerife, Spain and his sons John Patrick Meriac (Jamie) of Ballwin MO and Paul Michael Meriac (Joy) of Salt Lake City UT; and grandsons Bryson Patrick Meriac and Collin Andrew Meriac of Ballwin MO; and granddaughter Ella Joy Meriac of Salt Lake City, UT. He has nieces, nephews, and cousins in the United States, Europe, and Canada.

Ivan was born in the town of Pribovce in the former Czechoslovakia and became a naturalized US citizen in 1971. He studied in Czechoslovakia during World War II, completing his studies after the war. He attended the Tyrs Institute of Physical Education and Sports in Prague; next, he attended medical school in Kosice, Slovakia before transferring to Charles University in Prague; there, he completed his graduate work in clinical psychology in 1958. He practiced as a licensed clinical psychologist in a number of medical facilities for eight years before he emigrated to the United States where he joined extendedfamily members in Whiting, Indiana. Next he worked at Compers Rehabilitation Center in Phoenix, AZ; Elgin State Hospital in Elgin, IL; Moline State Hospital in Moline, IL; Rutherford Community Mental Health Center in Rutherfordton, NC; and Broughton State Hospital, in Morganton, NC, from which he retired.

Ivan loved the outdoors and with his wife, Kathleen, raised their two boys in rural Western North Carolina becoming as self-sufficient as possible on ten acres in Sunshine, NC. He always had a large garden and helped preserve the vegetables and fruits they raised; they also cut wood for their large wood stove; made beer, mead, and wine; and always had several dogs in the yard. They installed solar water heating in the 1970’s and practiced conservation and recycling in every practical way. Ivan taught his sons to ski, following in his lifelong love of the sport. Later, he managed a herd of Black Angus cattle on a 25 acre farm in Cherryville, NC. Ivan built a home on Lake Wylie in Belmont NC, where he enjoyed taking his pontoon on the lake and maintaining a large garden. After his wife retired, the couple moved to Chesterfield MO to be closer to son John and his family. There, he kept a very small garden, including herbs and fresh vegetables. In his later years, he followed tennis on television and would get up early or stay up late to watch matches all over the world. Ivan was a member of the Incarnate Word Parish in Chesterfield, MO, and a member of the Knights of Columbus in a previous parish.

Ivan’s favorite motto was Omnia Mutantur Nos etMutamure in Illis (All things change and we change with them). His family will remember his warmth, kindness, and his dignified, patrician bearing.

Services at the Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home, 12444 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, Friday, June 19, 2026. Visitation at 3 pm with Funeral Service at 4 pm. Donations may be made to a local Humane Society. 

Ortmann Stipanovich Funeral Home
www.osfuneralhomes.com