Leta Eileen (Reynolds) MEYER

MEYER, REYNOLDS, KINSELLA, WEILAND, BIRCHARD, BOYER, PARSONS, SCHILDBERG, FUOSS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/18/2007 at 15:28:03

Leta Eileen Reynolds Meyer was born March 4, 1925, in Eagle Grove, the fifth of nine children for Bernice (Kinsella) and Lyle Reynolds. She was raised in Algona, where she graduated from St. Cecilia's Academy in 1944. Following graduation, she was hired as a telephone operator at the prisoner of war camp west of Algona. After World War II she was a sales clerk at Crishellis' Women's Department Store. While at a carnival in Whittemore, she met Raymond Meyer in the summer of 1947. They married the following spring on Tuesday, March 30, 1948, and spent 58 years together. They built a life made of sharing, love, companionship, fun, and laughter that took them through the poor times, the healthy years, the successes, retirement and even through their Alzheimer journey. Leta knew that having a large family was important to Ray, so together they had three children. Then through the babysitting that Leta did and the foreign exchange students that they welcomed, an extended family was created. One of the relationships resulted in a very special bond. Marlene and Debbie Schildberg became like family when Leta babysat Debbie from the time she was just six weeks old. As a mother she was patient, kind, playful, a good teacher, generous, loving, and supportive. Leta became a skilled homemaker and graciously welcomed visitors to her home. She worked side by side with Ray as they refurbished four houses and built two. She enjoyed planning, preparing and cooking for celebrations, family get-togethers, and parties with friends. Playing cards was a favorite past time and Bridge was her preferred game. She was very good at this and taught many people the finer pints of this four-handed game. She was serious about her health and exercised daily including 2 mile walks. She liked to shop and was always very pleased with her bargains! She loved ice cream, learned to make wedding cakes, tried crafts and hand work such as ceramics, quilting, and sewing. Wallpapering and painting were two other things she mastered and helped many people with these projects. She liked watching "As the World Turns" and collected ginger jars and Santa Clauses. Despite all the things she did well, she never quite mastered driving – in fact she was a terrible driver. Christmas was her favorite holiday. She and Ray always had a garden and canned and froze all sorts of vegetables and fruits. Traveling was a retirement activity that she thoroughly enjoyed. The Catholic Church and her faith were paramount in her life. She was active in the parishes she was a member participating fully in the Altar and Rosary Societies.

On Friday, February 9, 2007, Leta joined Ray for eternity. She will be greatly missed by her children: Diane and Robert Weiland of Greenfield; Nancy and Wayne Birchard of Atlantic; Dan and Vicki Meyer of Ankeny; and Debbie and David Boyer of Cumming. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren include: Andy and Dani Meyer and their children Haylee and Damion of Orient; Tony Meyer and his fiancé Ashley Parsons of Creston; Emilee Birchard of Omaha, Neb.: Bryan Birchard and his friend Kristy of Fairfield; Mollie Birchard of Atlantic; Sally Parsons of Ankeny; Elizabeth, Andrea, Mason and Carson Boyer of Cumming; Brennen and Breanna Weiland of Greenfield; special family friend Marlene Schildberg of Orient; sister Dorothy Fuoss of Algona; brother Dick Reynolds and his wife Jean of Algona; many other relatives and friends.

Algona Upper Des Moines, Algona, IA 2/14/2007