Meyer, Arthur William -- 1929 - 2005

BLUMHAGEN, MEYER, AHRENHOLTZ, ANDERSON, HAGER, KLEIN

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 1/25/2006 at 20:34:50

Arthur W. Meyer

Arthur W. Meyer, 76, retired Band Director for the Atlantic, Iowa, school system, passed away Friday morning, November 11, 2005, at his home in Atlantic after a courageous 3 year battle with cancer.

Arthur William Meyer was born March 3, 1929, in Castalia, Iowa, in the family farm home to Harold Frederick and Mabel Louise (Blumhagen) Meyer. He graduated from Postville High School in May of 1947 and attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, from 1947-1951 graduating with a B.A. with a Music Education major with instrumental emphasis.

He taught K-12 music in the Manilla, Iowa, Community Schools from 1951-1955 and directed the choirs in the Methodist and Lutheran Churches. While in Manilla he was a member of the Kiwanis Club, being sponsored by H. Ray Hayes.

On May 29, 1955, Art married Joanne Grace Ahrenholtz in Manilla and as newlyweds, they moved to Atlantic in June.

Art attended summer school sessions from 1958-1961 at Northern Colorado State University in Greeley, CO, earning a M.A. degree with a major in Music Education. He did graduate work at Drake University in Des Moines, IA, the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, the University of Omaha in Omaha, NE, the University of Iowa in Iowa City, IA, the University of Wisconsin in Shell Lake, WI, and the University of Wichita in Wichita, KS.

He was the instrumental music director in the Atlantic Community Schools from 1959-1981. He then was employed with National Federation of Independent Business until his resignation in April 1994 when he went to work with National "Write Your Congressman" in May of 1994.

Art was a member of the Iowa Bandmaster's Association from 1951-1985, the Iowa State and National Education Association from 1951-1981, Phi Delta Kappa - Honorary Education Association from 1961-1986, and was nominated as the SW District Representative for the Iowa Music Education Association in 1980. He organized and escorted band trips to the National JayCees Convention in Louisville, KY, in 1969, the Dakota Days in Rapid City, SD, in 1972, the Manisphere in Winnepeg, Canada, in 1975, and Disney World in Orlando, FL, in 1978.

He belonged to the Music Educators National Conference, the Percussive Arts Society, the National Band Association, the Southwest Iowa Bandmasters Association and the Iowa Music Association.

He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church for 50 years, the church choir for 50 years, and director of the choir for 16 years as well as serving 2 terms on the church council as president. He was a 10 year member of the Kiwanis Club of Atlantic in which he served 2 years as president, 2 years as Lt. Governor of District 17, had received the Bartlett Medal, along with other honors, and at the time of his death was the club secretary and a proud advisor for the Aktion Club of Atlantic.

Art's love for his grandchildren showed in his special way--he named the girls Sunshine I and Sunshine II and the good conversational times he had with the boys. He was a volunteer for the Special Olympics and attended the games and concerts of the grandkids. He and the kids had a special goodbye wave they used whenever they left. He was the neighborhood Grandpa and especially liked feeding the squirrels with 3 year old Ellie. Art's love of music and helping others took top priority every day.

He was an avid traveler and camper both nationally and abroad and was proud to have climbed the Great Wall of China. He was a mentor for the Bug Program at the school and his hobbies included photography, woodworking, judging music contests, playing in the Tuba Christmas programs and planting gladiolas to share with others.

Art is survived by his wife, Joanne of Atlantic; one daughter, Greta and her husband Terry Anderson of Ankeny, IA, two sons, Greg and his wife Wendy Meyer of Oskaloosa, IA, and Grant and his wife Brenda Meyer of Laramie, WY; grandchildren, Tiffany, Nathan and Ashley Meyer and Benjamin Anderson; brothers, Cloy and his wife Bonnie Meyer and Duane Meyer both of Castalia, IA; one sister, Marlys and her husband Jerry Hager of Castalia, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding Art in death were his father Harold, his natural mother Mabel, who died when Art was 8 days old, his stepmother Elsie, a sister-in-law Doris and her husband Clifford Klein and a brother-in-law Donald and his wife Juanita Ahrenholtz.

Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 14, 2005 at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA. Arthur was buried in the Atlantic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family had requested donations be made and will be used to establish a scholarship in Art's name. Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, were in charge of arrangements.

Either the Postville Herald-Leader or Waukon Standard newspaper.