Person Page 2,944

OBITUARY:

William A. Meyer was born January 23, 1887, in Floyd County to Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Meyer. He was baptized shortly after his birth and at about the age of fourteen was confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Bassett.

In his young manhood he worked in the Dakotas and also spent some time in Canada and then farmed in Floyd and Chickasaw counties. In late years he was employed by the Sherman Nursery Company where he passed away very suddenly while at work on November 25, 1947.

On September 5, 1912, Mr. Meyer was married to Effie Tolle in New Hampton.

One of the seven children born to this union died in infancy, the others survive their father as does the widow, who resides in this community. Following are the sons and daughters--Blanche, now Mrs. Alvin Bortz, of Rudd, Ia. Byron Meyer, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Irene, now Mrs. Melvin Virchow of Charles City. Refa, now Mrs. Loran Essman of Lennox, So. Dak. Delmer Meyer of the United States Navy. Edna, now Mrs. Lyle Jacobson of Lennox, So. Dak.

Also, three grandchildren survive, Donald Bortz, Lorna Faye Essman, and Karen Meyer.

He also leaves one sister, Mrs. Mary Olvera of Houston, Texas, and three brothers, Carl Meyer of Charles City and Ernest and Henry Meyer of Bassett.

Funeral services were held Monday, December 1, at the Hauser Funeral Home with Mrs. Walter Fritschel officiating. He was laid to rest in the Oakwood cemetery at Floyd.

ANOTHER NEWSPAPER CLIPPING:

DEATH CLAIMS W. A. MEYER

William A. Meyer, 60, an employee of the Sherman Nursery company for eleven and a half years, died suddenly while at work at the nursery yesterday afternoon following a heart attack.

Mr. Meyer was assisting in the cutting of evergreen trees when he collapsed, a physician and an ambulance were summoned but Mr. Meyer succumbed soon after the attack. He had been a life long resident of this county, living for many years near Bassett. He had lived in Charles City for several years at 610 1/2 Kelly St.

Mr. Meyer is survived by his wife, Effie Meyer, who is at present convalescing at the Cedar Valley hospital following major surgery and the following children: Mrs. Blanche Bortz, of Rudd; Byron Meyer of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; Mrs. Irene Virchow of Charles City; Mrs. Refa Essman and Mrs. Edna Jacobson both of Lennox, S. D.; and Delmar Meyer in the navy. Also surviving are three grandchildren and three brothers and a sister.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but will be held at the Hauser funeral home either the latter part of this week or early next week.

(from findagrave.com)

Obituary from the Tuscaloosa News:

Funeral services for the Rev. Byron M. Meyer, 70, of 4014 6th St. E, who died Thursday at University Hospital in Birmingham, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cottondale Baptist Church. The Rev. Ron English, the Rev. Harold Pitts and the Rev. Otis Hill will officiate with burial in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park and Memory Chapel Funeral Home directing.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Arlene Meyer, Tuscaloosa; three daughters, Mrs. Paul (Karen) Wyatt, Mrs. Richard (Susan) Dean, and Mrs. Edwin (Sonja) Hicks, all of Tuscaloosa; three sisters, Mrs. Blanche Bortz, Rudd, Iowa, Mrs. Edna Jacobson, Canon City, Colo., and Mrs. Refa Essman, Weslaco, Texas; seven grandchildren; and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be Thomas Johnson, Dave Elmore, Joe Christian, Loyd Porter, Olith Erwin, and Curtis Fountain.

Honorary pallbearers include Hale Armistead, Elizabeth Wright, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Terry, Mrs. Mildred Lancaster, Mrs. Ara Wyatt, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Dean, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Hicks, Vic Foster, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Junkins, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Beck, friends of Brookwood Free Will Baptist Church, East Side Free Will Baptist Church, Liberty Free Will Baptist Church of Brilliant, staff and members of Cottondale Baptist Church, Cottondale Baptist Day Care staff, Dr. J. C. Guin, Dr. George Miller, Dr. Algis Sidrys, staff of Capstone Medical Center, staff of Tuscaloosa Veterans Medical Center, fifth floor nursing staff of DCH Regional Medical Center, ninth floor nursing staff of University Hospital, Dr. Sam Saleh and team at University Hospital, friends and neighbors of Sixth Street E.

(from findagrave.com)

Obituary from the Canon City Daily Record:

Refa LaVonne (Meyer) Essman 89, of Cañon City, joined our Lord on Dec. 3, 2008. Refa was born in Ionia, Iowa, in 1919, to William August Meyer and Mary Effie (Tolle) Meyer.

In 1939, she graduated from Charles City High School in Charles City, Iowa, and then attended the Midland Linotype School, where she received her certificate as a linotype operator. She worked setting type for newspapers in Iowa and North Chicago.

On April 23, 1942, Refa married Loran A. Essman at Camp Polk, La.; three daughters were born of this union. Refa devoted her life to her husband of 63 years, her children and helping others. She was a Girl Scout leader, room mother and a volunteer at an orphanage in Mexico. She was a talented seamstress, avid gardener and an exceptional cook. Her great passion for life and selfless love for her family and others will remain an inspiration to her family and all who knew her.

dates per SSDI

Obituary from Pueblo Chieftain, March 11, 2006

Loran A. Essman, 89, of Canon City, joined our Lord on March 3, 2006. Born in Ellsworth, Minn., Loran wed Refa L. Meyer on April 23, 1942, at Camp Polk, La. Sent overseas as a tank mechanic in October of 1942, Loran served as a sergeant in the 1st Army, Third Armored Spearhead Division and fought in five major campaigns: Normandy, N. France, Rhineland, Battle of the Bulge and Central Europe. For his service, he was awarded the Jubilee of Liberty Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal and the American Defense Service Medal. Loran moved to Canon City with his family in 1965 after leaving the grocery business in Southern California. He then worked as a produce manager for Hilltop Market and Canon Market before enjoying retirement in Southern Texas. In 1995, Loran and his wife moved back to Canon City. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lorna Faye Taylor. Survived by his wife of 63 years, Refa; daughters, Dawn (Pete) Nelson and Jacqui (Mark) Mitchell; grandchildren, Loran (Meladee) Taylor, Amy Nelson, Mark Mitchell Jr. and Michael Mitchell; great-grandchildren, Tristan and Asia Taylor. Loran enjoyed gardening, barbecuing, deep-sea fishing, his beloved yellow lab, Abby, and making others laugh. His great selfless love for his family and deep sense of patriotism remain an inspiration to his family and all who knew him. Memorial service, 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at Holt Chapel of the Garden with the Rev. Don Bird officiating.

Obituary from the Tuscaloosa News on Thursday, August 3, 1989 (from findagrave.com):

Funeral services for Delmer L. Meyer, 65, who died Wednesday at DCH Regional Medical Center, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Memory Chapel Funeral Home. The Rev. C. C. Randall and the Rev. Carol Hatchel will officiate with burial in Tuscaloosa Memorial Park with full military rites grave side.

Survivors include his wife, Rachel Meyer, Tuscaloosa; a daughter, Denise Crawford, Northport; a son, Bill Meyer, Tampa, Fla.; three sisters: Blanche Bortz, Rudd, Iowa; Refa Essman, Weslaco, Texas; and Edna Jacobson, Canon City, Colo.; five grandchildren; and other relatives.

Pallbearers will be Richard Griffin, Truman Bailey, Billy Barton, Wilbur Ernst, Paul Wyatt, Pete Cicero, Robert Lancaster, Philip Alexander, John Meyers and Frank Wyatt.

He was a retired Navy veteran of 20 years, serving in World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was awarded the China Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He was also retired from the Veterans Administration Medical Center and was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Pastor's Chapel Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be made to the American Cancer Society or the Building Fund of First Baptist Church.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 tonight at the funeral home.