Rev. Martin Luther August MEYER

MEYER, KORN, SPRINGER, TEAFF, WALKER, WHITE, BENNETT, STUMPF

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/3/2016 at 18:14:59

June 10, 1920 --- August 8, 2005

The Rev. Martin Luther August Meyer, 85, Michigan City, [Indiana] died at 6:35 p.m. Monday (Aug. 8, 2005) at The Arbors of Michigan City. The funeral is at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 818 Franklin St., with the Rev. David Matevia officiating. Burial is in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation is from 9:30 a.m. until the service Saturday at the church. Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel handled the arrangements.

The Rev. Meyer was born June 10, 1920, in Michigan City to Armin Paul and Clara Barbara Louise (Korn) Meyer, who preceded him in death. On June 10, 1951, in Muscatine, Iowa, he married Rose Springer, who died March 16, 1991. Survivors include two brothers, David (Malinda) Meyer, Michigan City, and retired Ambassador Armin (Alice) Meyer, Washington, D.C.; a sister, Miriam Teaff, Long Beach, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Loretta Meyer, Michigan City; three nephews, Ron (Sylvia) Meyer, Parker, Texas, Daniel (Lisa) Meyer, Antioch, Tenn., and James (Sara) Meyer, Highlands Ranch, Colo.; five nieces, Linda Meyer, Michigan City, Jennifer Walker, LaPorte, Kathleen White, Bethesda, Md., Sharon (Herman) Bennett, Dillon, Mont., and Lorna Stumpf, Long Beach, Calif.; and 10 great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Paul G.E. Meyer.

The Rev. Meyer was born at the St. Paul Lutheran parsonage in Michigan City and later baptized at the church. In April 1926, he moved with his family to Stockton, Ill., where his father served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church until 1932. His father, having suffered from a heart condition, took a year off, and the Rev. Meyer and his two brothers went to live with their grandfather, August Korn Sr., in Fort Wayne.

On Aug. 2, 1933, the Rev. Meyer moved with his family to Belmond, Iowa, where his father assumed a pastorate at St. John Lutheran Church. After only nine months, he died at 53. Mrs. Meyer did her best to raise her children during the next nine years, moving around earning a living by baking and taking in washing. She later managed a small cafe, the family living in the rear of the building.

The Rev. Meyer was confirmed in the Lutheran faith on May 12, 1935. He graduated from Belmond High School in 1938 and entered Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, where he graduated in spring 1943. He entered the Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa, and graduated in 1945. He was ordained on May 27, 1945, at St. Paul Lutheran Church. He accepted a call to Hope Lutheran Church, Bowling Green, Ohio, and later served in parishes in Richmond, Mich.; Atalissa, Iowa; West Liberty, Iowa; Akron, Iowa; Luana, Iowa; and Gillespie, Ill., retiring to Michigan City in 1982. The Rev. Meyer served on the Iowa District of the former American Lutheran Church, the American Mission Committee, the Evangelism Committee of the Illinois District and as secretary of the Southern Illinois Conference. He maintained many ministries after retiring, including packing and sending care packages overseas, his ministry with prisoners and with shut-ins and a "stairway ministry" as he walked up and down the stairs at St. Anthony Hospital.

He never missed an opportunity to reach out to help someone in need. He never lost his childhood love of cars and trains, and enjoyed music, sports and just visiting people.

Contributions may be made to the St. Paul Lutheran Church Organ Fund, St. Paul School or Greater Europe Mission in care of James Meyer.

News-Dispatch --- Michigan City, IN
August 10, 2005