Meyer, John Dale 1928 - 2022
MEYER, VSETECKA, HOLTHAUS, HANSEN, BERRY, KLIMESH, ZILEM, SOPPE, GLIDDEN, OLSGARD, HEISLER, BURKE, RIESE, CLONINGER, SCHMITT
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/12/2022 at 11:09:49
U.S. Veteran
John Meyer age 94 of Calmar, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, IA.
A memorial mass will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 13, 2022 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, Iowa with Rev. Henry Huber presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Saturday morning. There will be a rosary starting at 9:00 a.m. for anyone that would like to attend.
Memorials may be made in memory of John to Howard County Hospice, 235 8th Ave West, Cresco, IA 52136
John Dale was born on May 16th, 1928, the son of Daniel and Laura Mae (Vsetecka) Meyer of Fort Atkinson, IA. He grew up on the family farm until John enlisted in the U.S. Navy soon after high school. Boot camp was in San Diego, which led him to attend the University of California. He served 34 months on the famous USS Doyle in San Francisco as a radio operator. The ship spent nearly a year in Qingdao (Tsingtao) China. John was discharged in May of 1949 to the Naval Reserve. He soon became bored with farm life and re-enlisted for the Korean Conflict, assigned to the staff of Commander, Landing Ship Dock Squadron One as senior radioman, spent a year in Inchon, Korea. John left the service in May of 1951. He met Dolores at the Inwood in Spillville and danced their way to a marriage in September 22, 1953.
John and Dolores began their life together farming between Fort Atkinson and Festina. In 1965, John was appointed Postmaster of Calmar. Before retirement in 1992, he was honored as National Postmaster of the Year.
John served as a member, President, and District Governor of the Lions Club and received the prestigious Warren Coleman and Melvin Jones Fellow Honorary Awards. Other community involvement included Town Council, St. Al's Church Board, Library Board, Halverson-Giesen Am. Legion, and South Winn Country Club for over 40 years.
John enjoyed helping his kids with all their remodeling projects, he could fix or build anything. His biggest passion in life, other than his family and friends, were the fifty-some vacations to Mexico. He loved sharing his travel experiences with other people. John also enjoyed keeping his cars clean; spicy food; fishing trips to MN (showing the kids how to water-ski at the age of 80); playing cards; boating; camping; dancing; traveling; and a rum and coke at 5:00.
John is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dolores (Holthaus); six children: Arlen (Burla) Meyer of Lakewood CA, Steve Meyer of Decorah, Tina (Roger) Hansen of New Hampton, Connie (Bobby) Berry of Arlington IA, John Meyer of Orlando FL, Karla (Bill) Klimesh of Protivin; twelve grandchildren: Misty Marsh, LeeAllen Meyer, Kelly (Ricky) Zilem, Crystal Soppe, Tarron (Ty) Glidden, Mike Hansen, Jackie (Jason) Olsgard, Tony Berry, Chelsea Berry, Jamie (Jake) Heisler, Robert Klimesh, Kyle Klimesh; ten great-grandchildren; one sister: Carole (William) Burke of Waucoma; three brothers: James (Janice) Meyer of Fort Atkinson, Daniel (Jeannie) Meyer of Garden Grove CA; Peter (Marge) Meyer of Decorah; and Aunt Ellen Riese of Colo IA.
John was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters: Virginia Cloninger and Charlene Schmitt; two brothers: Robert and William; and great-grandson Jayden Heisler.
The family would like to thank Howard Co. Community Hospice for their loving care!
Source: Helms Funeral Home database
St. Aloysius Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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