Meyer, Nanferd Burdette -- 1928 - 2007

WANGSNESS, MEYER, KRAMBEER, GAGER, OSMUNDSON, ELSBERND

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/1/2007 at 08:27:41

Nanferd Meyer, 78, Castalia

Funeral services for Nanferd Meyer, 78, were held Sunday, September 2, at 2:30 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church at Castalia, with the Reverend Dave L. Lenth officiating. The casket bearers were Dean Monroe, Roger Monroe, Kale Monroe, Dale Blumhagen, Jerry Schrandt and Victor Szabo. The honorary casket bearers were Merle Monroe, Robert Brandt, Wayne Timmerman, Robert Szabo, Leon Everman, Bill Buddenberg and Kenneth Schroeder (deceased). Interment was in the Bloomfield Cemetery, rural, Castalia, with military honors.

Nanferd Burdette Meyer was born December 30, 1928, on the Meyer family farm in Bloomfield Township, near Castalia, to Valder and Marie (Wangsness) Meyer. He passed away Thursday, August 30, in his home in Castalia.

He was baptized and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church, where he was a member. He attended the Castalia Public School. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served with the Army Occupation Forces in Japan. The death of his father brought him home to run the family farm in 1948, which he did until 1978.

June 26, 1949, Nanferd married Beverly Krambeer at the Ossian Lutheran Church. They had two daughters, Vicky and Valarie, and four sons, Kim, Kevin, Kalen and Kenton ("Jake"). The couple later divorced. He married Nancy Gager in November of 1974. They had a son, Kasey.

Nanferd loved his horses and was a well-known horseman. For several years he was a teamster (carriage driver) on Mackinac Island, Mich. He enjoyed reading and hearing about all his grandchildren's achievements. The later years found him spending time at the farm, dusting tractors and working with his horses. Going to horse pulls was another enjoyment for him. Until he became too ill, he enjoyed his morning coffee with his friends at the First Chance. He was honored to be Grand Marshal with his friend, Merle Monroe, for the 2003 Castalia Tractor Days.

Survivors include his seven children: Vicky (Dennis) Osmundson, Calmar; Kim (Sandy) Meyer, Castalia; Kevin (Kristy) Meyer, Elgin; Kalen Meyer, Castalia; Kenton "Jake" (Jody) Meyer, Castalia; Val Elsbernd and special friend, Tim Piper, Calmar; and Kasey Meyer, Madison, Wis.; 13 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Also surviving are two brothers: Kenneth V. (Nancy) Meyer, Decorah; and Kelly Meyer (fiancé, A. J. Waterman), Decorah; a nephew, Jeff Meyer, Omaha, Neb.; two nieces: Beth (Curt) Mills, Glendale, Ariz., and Anne (Dan) Rouse, El Paso, Texas; four grand nieces and one grand nephew.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Elgin, Iowa newspaper, September 12, 2007