Howard Meagle Jr.

TOMAHAWK, Wis. -- Howard W. Meagle Jr., 76, of Tomahawk passed away Monday, May 9, 2022.

Howard was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, March 16, 1946, to the late Howard and Helen Dunning Meagle Sr.

Howard graduated from Linsly Military Institute in Wheeling, where he was a natural athlete, playing football, baseball and basketball. He was awarded a football scholarship to the University of Virginia in 1964. There, he joined the fraternity Theta Delta Chi. Howard graduated from the University of Virginia in 1968 with a bachelor's degree in Central American political studies. He later earned a master's degree in speech communication from the University of Memphis (Tennessee).

After graduating college, Howard began a 40-plus-year career in broadcast journalism by taking a job at a country radio station owned by his father in Wheeling. He spent many years in radio broadcasting doing everything from deejaying -- sometimes in Spanish! -- to station management before he transitioned to television in the 1970s. Howard's broadcast career took him all over the country from Virginia to California to Georgia to North Carolina to Missouri and to Tennessee.

While working at KFVS-TV 12 in Cape Girardeau, he met his future wife, JoAnna Chvala. The two were married Oct. 11, 1981, in Cape Girardeau. They eventually celebrated 41 years of marriage.

Soon after, the couple moved to Savannah, Georgia, for Howard's job, where they welcomed their first child, Ann Catharine Meagle, in August 1983. In 1985, Howard and JoAnna moved their small family to Greenville, North Carolina, for another step in Howard's career. Two years later, they welcomed their second child, Kevin Joseph Meagle. Howard's career relocated the family back to Cape Girardeau in 1992, where they remained through 2001. Here, they raised the children, Howard continued to find career success, and their daughter graduated from high school. Howard was a loving and supportive father and spouse, never missing an opportunity to impart dad wisdom or even a bad joke just to make his children laugh.

In 2001 Howard made the last move in his broadcast career, settling in Memphis. The family celebrated many milestones in Memphis, including both children graduating from college. Howard made the decision to leave broadcast in 2006 to pursue a master's degree to begin his next chapter as a college professor. Upon receiving his master's degree, Howard began teaching speech and broadcast classes at local colleges for the next several years, including Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and Northwest Mississippi College.

In 2016, the family inherited the Chvala family cottage in Tomahawk. Howard and JoAnna made the decision to retire fully there, welcoming a lakeside life amidst the peace and tranquility of the Northwoods. Howard embraced retirement, spending his days cruising Deer Lake on his pontoon, working on cottage projects, connecting virtually with old friends and dining at his favorite supper clubs.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnna; children, Annie and Kevin (Natalie); granddaughter, Julia; and sisters, Helen Ann Faso and Estelle Krahel.

In accordance with Howard's wishes, no formal services will be held.

Generations Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family.

Leave online condolences at www.generationsfuneral.com.