Dustin Don Meese

Dustin Don Meese passed away unexpectedly at the age of 39 on May 9, 2026. He was born February 2, 1987, in Robinson, IL, the son of Billie Don & Bevela Jean (Mashburn) Meese. He grew up in the Hardinville and Oblong areas and attended Oblong schools. Football was his game from early on. He played in the JFL as a kid and kept at it through high school, the kind of player who loved the contact and the camaraderie of being on a team.

From an early age, it was evident that he was a creative soul. He had an eye for drawing, and a pencil was rarely far from his hand. He'd draw anything and everything, though skulls and crosses showed up most often. He also taught himself to play guitar. "Smoke on the Water" was a standard in his rotation, and he played a lot of Nickelback, too. He wasn't trained, but he didn't need to be. He picked things up by ear and kept picking at them.

Through the years, the river was where he was most at home. He lived on it and fished it, and being outside filled him up in a way nothing else quite did, though he found meaning and purpose helping the food pantry when they needed an extra hand.

Dustin's choices led him down a path that, over time, took him away from the people closest to him. The distance was real, and the years it covered were real too. But through it all, they loved him still, and they always will.

He is survived by his children, Taylor & Spencer Hightshoe of Robinson, IL, Dalayna & Daniel Magnuson of Fairfield, IL, Emily & Mason Dunlap of Hutsonville, IL, and Aryanna Meese of Fairfield, IL; his new granddaughter, Willow Jean Meese of Fairfield, IL; his sister, Brandy Dunn of Missouri; his aunts and uncles, Brad & Serena Mashburn of South Tennessee, Jim & Tina Mashburn of East Tennessee, Kimberly & Gilbert Delph of Indiana, Pamela Merideth of Kentucky, and Ed Higgins of Robinson, IL; as well as several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his paternal and maternal grandparents; his uncles, Max Mashburn and Jerry Merideth; and his aunt, Patricia Higgins.

Dustin is to be cremated without public services. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson is assisting the family at this time.