John R. Meyer
My uncle, John R. Meyer, also known as Jr., died today at the age of 85. He was a good man and will be much missed by his family. After serving as an artillery non-commissioned officer in Italy in World War II, John returned to the family farm east of Exira, Iowa, where he lived the rest of his life. Jr. was the last of a generation of farmers who believed that bigger was not necessarily better, and that conservation of our natural resources should take priority over making a buck.
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John (Junior) R. Meyer, 85
John (Junior) R. Meyer, 85, of Exira, died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006 at the Exira Care Center.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 21, at 10:30 a.m. at the Exira Christian Church.
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery.
Family visitation will be at 7 p.m. Monday evening at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.
Survivors include his sister, Nadine Wheeler of Exira and his sister-in-law, Mildred Meyer of Exira.
The Kessler Funeral Home in Exira is in charge of arrangements.
John (Junior) Rolan Meyer
Funeral services for John Rolan Meyer, 85, were conducted Feb. 21, at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, with Pastor Robert Hennick officiating. Interment was in the Exira Cemetery. Graveside Services were conducted by the American Legion Ballou Post No. 332. Honorary casket bearers were Matthew Plante, Daryl Nielsen, Chuck Wise, and Chris Meyer. Casket bearers were Colby Wheeler, Zach Wheeler, Jeffrey Bauer, Jr., Jason Adams, Steve Riesberg and Bill Baylor.
John (Junior) Rolan Meyer, the son of John J. and Ella Gude Meyer, was born Jan. 25, 1921, at his parents home in Audubon Township near Exira and died Feb. 18, 2006, at the Exira Care Center in Exira.
John was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in Exira. He attended rural schools near Exira, and then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1937. He then was employed at Cozy Manufacturing for several years.
In 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Army. During his tour of duty, he served in Italy and North Africa. In 1946, he was honorably discharged and returned to Exira. John worked for the Exira Creamery. He also started farming in 1947 east of Exira. John operated a livestock and grain farm for over 50 years until he retired in 1997. He lived on the farm until he moved to the Exira Care Center in December of 2005. John was a lifelong member of the Exira Christian Church and had served as a trustee.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his brother, Norman S. Meyer; his nephew, Ronald Dean Meyer; his great-niece, Shannon Wheeler; and his brother-in-law, Leonard Wheeler.
John is survived by his sister, Nadine Wheeler; his sister-in-law, Mildred Meyer, both of Exira; his nephews and nieces: Larry and wife, Sandra Wheeler of Exira; Charles Wheeler of Kansas City, KS; Craig Wheeler; Sandra and husband, Jeff Bauer, all of Exira; Patricia and husband, Charles Wise of Racine, WI; Barbara and husband, Daryl Nielsen of Ft. Collins, CO; Christopher and wife, Katja Meyer of Nuremberg, Germany; many great-nieces and great-nephews; many great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; other relatives and friends.