John Clifton Meyer
John Clifton Meyer, 95, of Garnavillo, passed away Monday, June 1, 2020, at his home.
John was born March 2, 1925, on the family farm east of Giard, the youngest child of Clifton and Milda (Glesne) Meyer. John was baptized at his home by Rev. Dr. George Wessel on March 19, 1925, during the “wake” service of his father Clifton, who had died on March 16.
John, his siblings and mother moved to Elkader after his father’s death. He was confirmed in 1937 at UCC/Frieden’s Church of Christ, Elkader. John graduated from Elkader High School in 1943, enlisted in the U.S. Navy and entered into active service in May of that year. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theater on the aircraft carrier escort USS Altamaha, surviving a December 1944 typhoon, and was later stationed in French Morocco on the U.S. Naval Air Station at Port Lyautey. He was in Times Square in New York City on VJ Day Aug. 14, 1945. After his discharge from the U.S. Navy in February 1946, he attended Luther College in Decorah, Oklahoma State College and Iowa State Teacher’s College (UNI). John worked briefly for John Deere and Glesne Brothers’ Coast to Coast among others during his youth and college years.
He was united in marriage to Vivian Milewsky of Garnavillo on June 1, 1950, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo. Their union was blessed with four daughters. John and his wife farmed and raised their family just north of Garnavillo. In 1987, John and Vivian moved to the house John had built for his in-laws at 106 W. Watson, in Garnavillo. John was an active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Garnavillo, where he served on the church council and as an usher. He was a member of the Whistling Bit Saddle Club, Izaak Walton League, Farm Bureau and the American Legion Post. His hobbies included fishing, hunting, crossword puzzles, playing solitaire, woodworking and planting trees well into his 90s. He planted and watered more than 300 trees in his woods at the age of 90, and another 100 trees at 91. John also looked forward to visits from family and friends. He loved to reminisce and tell stories from the past.
John leaves to cherish his memory his four daughters, Jane (Ron) Thein of Garnavillo, Joyce (Robert) Numedahl of Ossian, Patti (Frank Jr.) Wacker of Elkader and Pauline Meyer of Appleton, Wis.; seven grandchildren, Jacob (Darla) Thein of Kansas City, Mo., Erin (Scott) Schoenhard of East Dubuque, Ill., Rodney Numedahl and Richard (Christie) Numedahl of Ossian, Thomas (Ashley) Wacker of Elkader, James Wacker of Dubuque and Daniel Meyer of Chicago, Ill.; eight great-grandchildren, Sydney, Kaci and Cole Schoenhard, Cashden and Westin Numedahl, Allianna and Jaxyn Wacker and Izabella Harbaugh-Scott; sisters-in-law, Lorene Meyer of Colorado and Darlene Meyer of Idaho; two nieces, a nephew and many other relatives and friends.
John was preceded in death by his wife Vivian, his parents Clifton and Milda, his step-father Delbert Roggensack, his brothers Carroll and Robert, sister Aileen, brother-in-law William Renkel, niece Barbara Meyer and nephew Mark Renkel.
Arrangements are being handled by Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home, Garnavillo. There will be a public graveside service where everyone is welcome to attend at the Garnavillo Community Cemetery at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 6, with Rev. Gary Hatcher officiating. To protect others, due to COVID-19, everyone is asked to continue social distancing when present at the service. If you are not feeling well, please feel free to send a card of condolence to the family of John C. Meyer at P.O. Box 181, Garnavillo, IA 52049.
The family extends a special thank you to family and friends and the staff of St. Croix Hospice for their care and compassion. In lieu of flowers and all styles of sympathy, memorials may be given to St. Paul Lutheran Church-Garnavillo, Garnavillo Fire and EMS Departments or St. Croix Hospice - 101 Elkader St., Strawberry Point, IA 52076. A video tribute may be viewed for John C. Meyer at www.tueckeallyn.com and click on John C. Meyer’s obituary page.
