Martha (Anderson) Meyer (2012)

MEYER, ANDERSON, MINISH, MEYER, KRUEGER, UNTIEDT, STANLEY, ANGELA

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 9/4/2012 at 07:27:08

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
July 24, 2012

MARTHA MEYER

Martha, age 96, died on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 28, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Iowa Falls with burial at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Garner. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls.

Memorials may be directed to the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Iowa Falls.

Martha Meyer was born June 20, 1916, to Henry K. Anderson and Marie (Nelson) Anderson in their home in Hanlontown, IA. She was baptized on July 16, 1916, at Grace Lutheran Church in Hanlontown where she was later confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Martha's confirmation verse was Matthew 5:16.

Martha attended a one room school before transferring to Hanlontown Public for the remainder of her elementary and high school years. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City on a scholarship and by washing dishes. Martha graduated with an Associate degree in 1935 and as a member of Phi Theta Kappa. She taught for a year in a one room school in Cerro Gordo County, one year in a one room school in Danville Township in Worth County, and two years as the 6th grade homeroom, math, geography, and PT teacher in the Terril, IA., schools. Martha completed summer work at Iowa State Teacher's College.

Martha met Rev. Clarence G. Meyer in Walther League and they were married at Grace Lutheran Church in Hanlontown on June 18, 1939. They lived in Sanborn until 1942 when they moved to Ulmer. During WWII, Rev. Meyer served the Lake View congregation. In 1946, the family moved to Trinity Lutheran Church in rural Van Meter where he served until 1958. That year, he was called to St. John Lutheran in Reinbeck where he served until his retirement in 1971. So that Martha might care for her parents, they moved to Clear Lake. In 2004, after her husband's death, Martha moved to Cedar Ridge in Iowa Falls where she was closer to family. Her final earthly home was Heritage Care Center.

Martha was an active member of Women's Club, Ladies Aid, LWML, library reading club, Walther League as a young adult, and Camp Okoboji. It was Martha's father who helped purchase and start the Lutheran church camp where he served as secretary.

What mattered most to Martha Meyer? Her faith. This faith was lived out in her daily life. Martha helped with VBS, Sunday school, Christmas programs, the mission work of the LWML, weddings, and Bible class. She rarely missed a day of worship until her health prevented her from attending. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ - to take the Gospel into all lands - motivated Martha her entire earthly life.

Martha's family mattered. She encouraged her two sons and daughters - Roberta, Don, Ruth, and Ted - and many grandchildren as they all pursued higher education. She was their cheerleader, proud of their accomplishments, and as involved in their lives as she could be. Martha was fond of family gatherings and celebrations. Phone calls kept her connected to extended family and their activities. She recorded the family news in her own unique style for each Christmas letter.

Martha was an avid reader. She stayed in touch with what was happening in the world. She greatly enjoyed every opportunity to travel. As her children moved around the country, Martha would journey wherever she needed in order to visit. Her special trip was to Norway in May of 2004. There, she visited relatives and saw family landmarks in Bergen, Norway, from where her parents and ancestors came.

Many lives were touched by Martha's. But, more so, they were influenced by the faith which Martha confessed. It is because of Jesus Christ that Martha could sing, "I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home. Earth is a desert drear, heaven is my home. Danger and sorrow stand round me on every hand; heaven is my fatherland, heaven is my home." Even in Martha's aging years, she could sing, "Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side; bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; leave to your God to order and provide; in every change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; your best, your heavenly Friend, through thorny ways leads to a grateful end." Martha trusted that mercy for all of us as sinful people can only come from Jesus Christ and, for that reason, encouraged all around her: "If you cannot speak like angels, if you cannot preach like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus, you can say He died for all. If you cannot rouse the wicked with the judgment's dread alarms, you can lead the little children to the Savior's waiting arms." (All hymns from Lutheran Service Book, CPH.)

Martha leaves a legacy of faith to her children Roberta (Gary) Minish of Plano, TX.; Don (Jeannie) Meyer of Stanford, CA.; Ruth Krueger of Spring, TX.; and Ted (Jackie) Meyer of Falcon Heights, MN.

She leaves a legacy of faith to her grandchildren: (Don's family) Jeff and Mary Angela of Houston, TX, and daughters Clare and Mary Grace; John and Jan Meyer of Dana Pointe, CA., Ted of Los Angeles, CA.; and Andrew and Edward Meyer of Stanford, CA. (Ruth's family) Andy and Jackie Krueger of Houston, TX., and daughter Jessica; Katie Krueger of Fort Calhoun, NE., and son Drew; April Krueger of Cypress, TX., and sons Conner and Daniel, Jr.; and Sarah and Brad Untiedt of Austin, TX. (Ted's family) Julia and Justin Stanley of Iowa City and children Callie and Tyson; Ben Meyer of Falcon Heights, MN.

Martha's family remembers with gratefulness her dear friend and caretaker, Vicki Hoversten.

Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Clarence G. Meyer; her parents, Henry K. and Marie (Nelson) Anderson; two brothers, Robert and Harry; and one grandson, Dan.

To God be the glory for all that He has done through His daughter in Christ, Martha Meyer.
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Transcriber's Note: Mrs. Meyer, with her husband Rev. Clarence Meyer, were residents of Madison County where he was pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Jefferson Township from 1946 - 1958.

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