Peter Kenneth Meyer

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 3:03 pm

Peter Kenneth Meyer, 70, of Calmar, died peacefully, with his family by his side, Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at the Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, after a three-year battle with Multiple Myeloma cancer. Mass Of Christian Burial is at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 13, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, with Rev. Robert Gross, Rev. Donald Hawes and Rev. Daniel Knipper officiating. Lectors are Mary Lee Roth, Beth Condon, Lois Humpal and Sherri Lensing. Mass servers are Mia French, Dylan Hageman and Logan Hageman. Eucharistic ministers are Theresa Cunitz, Mary Rausch, Ken Schissel and Wayne Wiest. Gift bearers are Pete’s grandchildren. Prelude music is “My Old Man.” Organist is Jeanette Dietzenbach. Hymns are “Be Not Afraid,” “You Are Mine,” “On Eagles Wings,” “We Remember” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (St. Aloysius Choir). Honorary casket bearers are members of the American Legion and Calmar Fire and Rescue. Casket bearers are Dan Peters, Eric Thuente, Keith Gerlich, Russell Hageman, Troy Lensing, Linus Sabelka, Ronald Schmitt, Michael Wilder and Tim Vondersitt. Military rites at the cemetery are by Halverson-Giesen American Legion Post 266, Calmar.

Peter Kenneth Meyer was born Aug. 31, 1946, in Des Moines. Shortly after he was born, Pete was adopted by Kenneth and Alice Loraine (Carpenter) Meyer. He attended South Winneshiek School in Calmar and graduated in 1964. After graduation, Pete was drafted by the United States Army. He did his basic training in 1966 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo ., with further training at Fort Bragg, N.C. Pete was then deployed to Qui Nhon in the Republic of South Vietnam in 1967, with the 64th Transportation Unit. His duty was to haul supplies from the Qui Nhon seaport base across the country to An Khe and Pleiku. Upon returning home, he went to work for the family business, Calmar Manufacturing Company. He was united in marriage to Alma Hageman at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar Sept. 6, 1969. To this union three children were born: Corey, Amy and Jennifer. After marriage, Peter attended Area One Vocational School (NICC) for the building materials and management program while continuing to work at Calmar Manufacturing as a draftsman. He became a member of the Calmar Fire Department June 8, 1970, where he served for 47 years – 34 years as the fire chief. He retired from Calmar Manufacturing in 2012. Pete was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church; Halverson-Giesen American Legion Post 266, serving as post adjutant; president of the Calmar senior citizens building committee, and an ardent supporter of various conservation organizations. Pete was an avid sports fan, specifically the Hawkeyes, Cubs and the Packers. He loved hunting and fishing, and spending time at Lil’ Lake Meyer. Pete’s grandchildren were his biggest joy and they affectionately referred to him as “Papa Pete.” In 2013, he was awarded the Quilt of Valor and in 2015 he was selected to go on the 22nd Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Pete will be greatly missed by many.

Pete is survived by his wife of 47 years, Alma; three children: Corey (Christi) Meyer, Calmar; Amy (Eric) Thuente, Cedar Rapids; and Jennifer (Dan) Peters, Cedar Rapids; nine grandchildren: Carly, Cody and Caden Meyer; Evan, Lila, Jack and Audra Thuente; and Bryce and Aubrey Peters; sister, Nancy Condon, Decorah; brothers and sisters-in-law: Bernice Hackman, West Union; Dorothy (Elmer) Schmitt, Fort Atkinson; Mary (Melvin) Rausch, Fort Atkinson; LaVerne (Alice) Hageman, Fort Atkinson; Alfred (Louise) Hageman, Cedar Rapids; Theresa (Bob) Cunitz, Norwalk, Wis.; Joan Schissel, Decorah; and Jean Hageman, Decorah; along with many nieces and nephews.

Pete was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth J. and Loraine Meyer; step-mother, Katherine Meyer; father and mother-in-law, Ignatius and Elizabeth Hageman; brothers-in-law: Urban Hageman, Leon Hageman, Alvin Hackman and Lee Schissel; nieces, Jill Read and Lori Milbrandt; nephews: Mike Condon, Don Hackman and Craig Brandt.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Peter K. Meyer Memorial Fund. The family would also like to encourage everyone to donate blood in Pete’s honor.
The family wishes to thank you for the many prayers and neighborly acts of kindness. They are most grateful for the excellent care he received from the staffs at the Iowa City VA, Nashville VA, Decorah CBOC, WMC, Eastern Iowa VNA, Unity Point-St. Luke’s, Cedar Rapids & Jones Regional. Finally, for the outpouring of acts of sympathy that have been a comfort to Pete’s family.