Laura Meyer

Laura Meyer, age 101, of Fort Atkinson, IA, died Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at the Barthell Eastern Star Nursing Home in Decorah, IA, after a long illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday December 27, 2008 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, IA by Rev. David Beckman. Burial will be in the church cemetery Friends may call from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday December 26, 2008 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home Chekal Chapel in Fort Atkinson, IA, and after 9:30 Saturday at the Funeral Home. On Friday there will be a rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a scripture service at 5:00 p.m. Laura Mae Vsetecka Meyer was born on August 28, 1907, the daughter of Frank and Rose (Lukes) Vsetecka in Protivin, Iowa. Laura attended from Calmar High School. She married Dan Meyer on April 28, 1923 in Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and to this union nine children were born: William, Dale, Carole, James, Virginia, Dolly, Peter, Dan and Robert. They were married for forty-five years. Laura and Dan farmed for many years between Calmar and Fort Atkinson, and raised purebred Hereford breeding stock. They were especially proud to have Lake Meyer named after them. Laura enjoyed traveling, knitting baby caps for hospitals, writing letters to Missionaries, but her favorite pastime was playing cards, always bidding in hearts. Laura was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, the Jackson Homemakers, American Legion Auxiliary, the Catholic Foresters and the Catholic Daughters of America. She devoted much volunteer time to the Agency on Aging, local hospitals and nursing homes. Laura’s survivors include her daughter: Carole (William) Burke, Waucoma, IA. Six sons: John Dale (Dolores) Meyer, Calmar, IA; Robert (Charlotte Ann) Meyer, Lawler, IA; William (Janette) Meyer, Fort Atkinson, IA; James (Janice) Meyer, Fort Atkinson, IA; Daniel (Jeannie) Meyer, Garden Grove, CA; and Pete (Marge) Meyer, Decorah, IA, as well as thirty-six grandchildren, forty-two great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. One sister: Ellen (Art) Riese, Colo, IA, One son-in-law Richard Schmitt, Calmar, IA, along with many nieces and nephews. Laura was preceded in death by her parents: Frank and Rose Vsetecka. Her husband: Dan Meyer on February 12, 1968. One brother: Dan Vsetecka. Two daughters: Virginia (Dee De) Cloninger in 1995 and Charlene Schmitt in 2001. Two grandsons: John Meyer and Danny Joe Schmitt.