Alvin P. Meyer

MEYER, RODERICK, SHAMBAUGH, BUCKLEW, MARASCO, SILLIMAN, GOWIN

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 2/14/2006 at 19:27:49

ALVIN P. MEYER Died Unexpectedly Saturday

Winterset Madisonian
October 25, 1967

Alvin P. Meyer of Winterset, one of Iowa's leading business, farm and political figures, died Saturday afternoon, Oct. 21, 1967. His death occurred unexpectedly, of a heart attack, while he was at his farm in Jefferson township. He was 70 years of age.

Mr. Meyer was one of Madison county's most widely known citizens, and a life-long resident of the county. He was born in Jefferson township Oct. 7, 1897, a son of Fred and Alice Roderick Meyer. His early life was spent farming in that community.

He was married in 1923 to Dorothy Shambaugh of Lee township, who survives him.

Mr. Meyer entered the oil business about 1932 in partnership with his brother, Earl Meyer of Van Meter. Together they established the Meyer Brothers Oil Company, with a bulk plant at Van Meter and their first service stations at Van Meter, Adel and Winterset. They later expanded this into a chain of retail outlets in this part of Iowa.

About 20 years ago he moved into the restaurnt field by building the Aldo Cafe in Winterset, and this was followed by such enterprises as the Gold Buffet dining rooms in Winterset and Kansas City, and the Win-Bowl bowling lanes, the Bizz Mart food market, a welding shop, the Aldo-Maple Leaf motel, and a mobile home park, all at Winterset. He also was a large landowner and farmer in Jefferson township.

In the financial field, he was a vice president of Life Investors Insurance Company of America, and one of the founders and an executive of Heartland Productions, the Iowa motion picture production company.

He was an active member of the Wintersest Chamber of Commerce, the Winterset Rotary club, and the Uptown Lions club of West Des Moines. His church membership was with the Evangelical United Brethren church at Van Meter. He was a Sunday school teacher and superintendent for many years. He was an honorary 4-H and Future Farmer member.

Mr. Meyer was a leader of the Democratic party in Madison county over a long period of years. He served as state representative from this county in the 1961 and 1963 Iowa legislatures, was Democractic candidate for the U. S. senate from Iowa in 1950, and twice entered the field for U. S. congressman from this district.

A leading sports enthusiast, he owned and managed softball and baseball teams from 1936 to 1946. Two of his teams won state championships.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Meyer is survived by five children, Mrs. Marjorie Bucklew of Northridge, Calif., Carroll Meyer of North Kansas City, Mo., Frederick Meyer of Winterset, Mrs. Barbara Marasco of San Diego, Calif., and Mrs. Karen Silliman of Winterset. He also leaves 18 grandchildren; a brother, Earl Meyer of Van Meter; and a sister, Mrs. Mae Gowin of Van Meter.

Funeral services were to be held this Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Van Meter United Brethren church, in charge of the Rev. Clifford Carter, and of the pastor, the Rev. Donald Jones. Burial was to be made in the Winterset Cemetery.