Iolan Earnie Meadows, 86, died Saturday, May 12, 2012, of heart failure. He was born Aug. 24, 1925, in Woodlawn, Illinois, the son of Thomas J. and Florence (Piercy) Meadows. He married Erma (Peggy) Folk on Sept. 2, 1944, in Salem, Illinois. They were married 66 years when Peggy passed away. He became a permanent resident of Iola after a 36-year career as a heavy equipment operator on the pipeline. He worked all 48 continental United States, ending his career on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. He was a member of Covenant of Faith Christian Center in Iola. The couple raised five children, Sharon Allen, Las Vegas, Barbara Brunell, Ogden, Utah, Leo (Buddy) and David, Iola. A son, Tony, preceded him in death. Included in his survivors are two sons-in-law, Dennis Allen and Maurice Brunell; three daughters-in-law, Birdie Meadows, Marty Meadows and Nancy Meadows; 17 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Cremations has taken place. The family will receive visitors at the family home at 1760 Nevada Road, Iola, from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday. Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapel of Iola, assisted the family. Online condolences for the family may be left on this website, www.iolafuneral.com.