Juanita E. MEYER

MEYER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/17/2007 at 12:57:28

Fort Dodge Messenger
November 3, 2006

JUANITA E. MEYER

EAGLE GROVE, IA (October 30) - A visitation will be observed Sunday evening for Mrs. Juanita E. Meyer, who with her husband, Dr. Lloyd W. Meyer, served as pastors of the Church of the Open Bible for more than half a century. She died November 2 at the age of 87. Visitation will be observed from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, November 5, 2006, at the Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. A private graveside service for family members will be conducted at a cemetery in Iowa Falls Monday morning. Mrs. Meyer and her husband, who died July 4 this year, have resided at the Rotary Ann Home for a number of years. The couple and their three children, Jerry, Lloyd, and Donald moved to Eagle Grove in 1948 from Los Angeles where the couple assumed the pastorate at the Open Bible church. The Meyers concluded their ministry there in 2003. Born in 1919 in Spokane, Washington, Mrs. Meyer spent much of her youth in Southern California where a number of family members remain. She was one of three children, a sister and brother preceded her in death. Mrs. Meyer reflected a quiet, creative influence that shaped and guided many of the ministry initiatives over the years, especially those involving both the live Sunday evening radio broadcasts and the Fort Dodge-based television ministry. A much-loved pianist, she was known for her evangelistic and lively style of accompaniment a creative talent that allowed her to play most any selection without a musical score. She continued to share that talent after she moved into the Rotary Ann Home, often playing for singing during Sunday worship services and providing original arrangements of familiar hymns. Her creative talents were perhaps best displayed during the Little Country Church of Iowa weekly telecast over Fort Dodge-based station KQTV, managed by Ed Breen who encouraged her creative talents. She scripted all of the puppet segments, conceived the mailbox feature where she shared letters from viewers, and arranged visits by many of the country church choirs from throughout Iowa that appeared on the program, including the Swede Bend church that no longer exists, but whose building now resides at the Twin Lakes Christian Center in Manson. She also was instrumental in developing the weekly format for the popular Old-Fashioned Church of the Air radio broadcast, which originated from the Eagle Grove church and aired for 24 years over station KVFD in Fort Dodge, broadcasting live for one hour each Sunday evening.

Mrs. Meyer loved children, her Sunday school and Vacation Bible School events were well-known and well-received. But, her greatest passion centered on helping those in need, often spending hours counseling distraught individuals experiencing times of crisis. Although she struggled with serious illness most of her adult life, she was never one to complain. And she defied medical advice that urged her to cease playing the piano because of the damage it caused to her fingers, stating that as long as God gave her the strength, she would continue to offer that musical gift and leave the matter in God's hands.

Mrs. Meyer is survived by two sons: Lloyd, who lives in Carefree, Arizona, and Don, who lives in Chicago, Illinois; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her oldest son, Jerry, preceded her in death in June 2005. The family suggests that memorials be directed to the Flagstaff Mission to the Navajos in care of the Foust Funeral Home, 103 North Cadwell, P.O. Box 345, Eagle Grove, IA, 50533. The funeral home will forward all gifts to the mission. Peace be to her memory.