Obituary of Donald Clement Meyer

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Donald C. “Don” Meyer, 90, of Dyersville, Iowa died peacefully on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, at home. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 13, 2017 from 2 - 7 p.m. at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where there will be a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard in place from 4 – 6 p.m., followed by an American Legion service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday, January 14, from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. at Kramer Funeral Home prior to the funeral service. The funeral celebration will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville. Burial will follow at St. Francis Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 137. Rev. Richard Ament will officiate with Rev. Dennis Quint, Rev. Joseph Hauer, Rev. Timothy Lenchak SVD, Rev. Al Vorwald as concelebrants and Deacon Jim Steger assisting. Don was born on November 4, 1926, in Dyersville, son of Leo and Loretta (Weber) Meyer. He attended St. Francis Xavier schools and graduated from Coyne Electrical School of Chicago in 1948. Don served honorably in the U.S. Army during WWII and was proud to be part of one of the 2014 Honor Flights. On June 26, 1954 he married Helen Ament at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Worthington, Iowa. Don and Helen were blessed with 10 children, 15 grand-children and two great-grand-children. Don’s entrepreneurial spirit began shortly after his graduation from Coyne Electrical School of Chicago. After his studies and training in electricity and refrigeration, he began selling and installing Youngstown kitchens along with Frigidaire appliances. Becoming one of Frigidaire’s youngest franchisees Don went on to earn industry awards for highest sales and outstanding service. In 1949, under the name of Home Appliance Company, Don expanded his business to include residential and commercial mechanical services. In 1975 Don entered a business venture with his three brothers and under Meyer Brothers Development Co. developed West Linden Subdivision. In 1979 he purchased the Ed Wedewer Construction Company. With this purchase Meyer Construction Company was formed. The company entered into the field of commercial and industrial construction. In 1982 Don began the development of Stone Creek Shopping Center. In 1988 he sold the company he founded, Home Appliance, and became the owner and operator of Ace Hardware that was located within the shopping center. In 1996 he retired from the hardware business and sold it to his two daughters. He continued ownership and management of the shopping center until he sold it in 2005. Don actively served the community as a member of the Merchants Committee, Dyersville Chamber of Commerce, Dyersville City Council, Dyersville Development Commission and Dyersville Industries. Don was also a member of the Jaycees and Lions Club. In 1980 he received the Outstanding Community Service award from the Jaycees. In 2002, because of his outstanding service to his community, he was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Lions Club. Don was instrumental in the development of the Dyersville Community Hospital. As a representative of the Dyersville Community Hospital Corporation board, Don accepted chairmanship of the Building Committee and also served as co-chairman of the fund drive to build the hospital. As a devout Catholic, Don was actively involved in his parish, St. Francis Xavier Church. He served on the fund drive committee to help build Beckman High School, served as President of Beckman High School Board from 1975-1982, and also served as an honorary chairman for the St. Francis Xavier Grade School fund drive. As a man of great faith, he tried to attend mass daily and enjoyed participating as a Eucharistic minister and as a Fourth Degree Knight. Don enjoyed working outdoors and he loved nature. Before moving to town, Don and Helen had a wonderful home and acreage in the country. As an avid outdoorsman Don converted the open land into a large and extensive tree farm. Don also enjoyed his time with family at their cabin on Lake Delhi, traveling, golfing, woodworking, gardening, playing cards and annual fishing trips to Minnesota and Canada. Don is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen Ament Meyer; 10 children: Rachele (Doug) Rickels of Worthington, IA; Pam Meyer of Dyersville, IA; Clyde (Nanci La Susa) Meyer of Naperville, IL; Dennis Meyer (Lizbeth McDow) of Westminster, CO; Mary Meyer of Dyersville; John (Laurie Bildstein) Meyer of Dyersville; Teresa (Matt) Bockenstedt of Dyersville; Mark (Darla Carithers) Meyer of Dubuque; Geralyn Maloney of San Diego, CA and Chris Meyer of Sacramento, CA. 15 grandchildren: Dr. Michael (Dr. Kelsey Barnes) Rickels of Madison, WI; Meghan (Tyler) Raeder of Dubuque, IA; Rebekah Rickels (Dr. Max Jepson) of Fort Pierre, SD; Kristin Rickels (Matt Merta) of San Antonio, TX; Samuel Meyer (Chloe Lewis) of Chicago IL; Joseph Meyer of Naperville IL; Josh Meyer (Kyra Brandt) of Frederick, MD; Michelle Meyer (Tyrell Chostner) of Westminster, CO; Ben Bockenstedt (Jessica Kinneer) of Cedar Falls, IA; Katelin Bockenstedt (Joe Bredahl) of Dyersville; Justin Meyer of Dyersville; Morgan Meyer of Austin, TX; Samantha Meyer (Jeff Sullivan) of Ames, IA; Thomas Meyer of Edgewood, MD; and Andrew Meyer of Dubuque; two step-granddaughters: Kyra and Paige Howieson of Dubuque; two great-grandchildren: Laurel and Caroline Raeder of Dubuque. Two brothers; Jim (Sheila) and Kenneth (Kathy) of Dyersville; five sisters; Mary Jane (Harry) Steger of Edgewood, IA; Betty (Stan) McLane of Dyersville; Joyce (Ron) Drey of Mesa, AZ; Janice (Ron) Alfred of Ames; sister-in-laws; Dorothy Meyer; Pat Meyer of Dyersville and numerous nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Loretta Meyer and siblings; Loras (1999), Dick (2005), John and Anne, (in infancy). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Divine Word College, St. Francis Xavier Resurrection Choir and Mercy Medical Center Dyersville (Skilled Nursing). Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.