METHER, Carl E. 1925-2003

METHER, REIHER, BLAKELY, RAVENSWAAY, PERO, MOONEY

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 1/2/2013 at 12:58:08

Carl E. Mether, 78, 701 Oaknoll Drive, died Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Oaknoll Retirement Center following a lengthy illness.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. at Oaknoll Retirement Center with the Rev. Ken Royar officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery in Cedar Falls. A reception will follow the services. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Oaknoll Foundation or the Iowa City Noon Lions Club. Arrangements are with Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City.

Cal was born April 13, 1925, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Arbie H. and Ruth Reiher Mether. He was united in marriage to Jean Blakely on Sept. 3, 1946, at the Evangelical Church in Cedar Falls. He received his B.A. degree from the University of Northern Iowa and received his M.A. in audiovisual aids from University of Iowa.

He served in the U.S. Army in London, Paris, Berlin and Ireland. In 1944, Cal left the infantry replacement depot in Northern Ireland. Because he could type, he was assigned to Theater Intelligence, G-2 Intelligence Division Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force in London. Underground agents in France, Spain, and low countries spied on the Nazis. Language experts translated their messages and Cal typed the reports. This was top secret information. Cal gave daily reports that were used by General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his staff to make decisions on the anticipated invasion of Europe. Upon his return from the service he and his father owned and operated Mether Oldsmobile in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Cal later moved to Independence, Iowa, where he owned and operated Mether Oldsmobile.

Cal had taught at the University of Iowa College of Education, where he was involved with the coordination of faculty needs in producing media and the appropriate use of it. He was a professor and directed pre-service education teachers, the faculty and coordinated AV Production in the Learning Resource Center. He retired in 1990. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Iowa City Noon Lions Club. He was an enthusiastic and involved Lions member.

He was a passionate photographer who developed his own photos. Cal's photography often was displayed at Oaknoll. He was licensed to hybrid roses for the Jackson-Perkins Company and was a past president of the Iowa Rose Society.

He is survived by his wife, Jean of Iowa City; two daughters, Susan Van Ravenswaay and her husband James of Florida, and Mary Pero of Lansing, Mich.; three grandchildren, Aaron, Faye and Ryan; one brother, Lyle D. Mether and his wife Diana of Placentia, Calif.; one sister, Margery Mooney and her husband Bill of Las Vegas, Nevada; and one sister-in-law, Miriam Blakely of Iowa City.

Cal was preceded in death by his parents.

He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

[Lensing Funeral Service]