Peter K. Meyer

  Peter Kenneth Meyer, age 70, of Calmar, Iowa, died peacefully, with his family by his side on Wednesday, June 7, 2017, at the Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, Iowa after a three-year battle with Multiple Myeloma cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, IA, with Rev. Robert Gross presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from: 3:00 - 7:00 p.m., on Monday, June 12, 2017 and also from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday morning at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 South Washington Street, in Calmar, Iowa. There will be a rosary at 2:30 p.m. and a scripture service at 7:00 p.m., on Monday at the funeral home.      Peter Kenneth Meyer was born on August 31, 1946, in Des Moines, Iowa.  Shortly after he was born, Pete was adopted by Kenneth J. and Alice Loraine (Carpenter) Meyer.  He attended South Winneshiek School in Calmar and graduated in 1964.  After graduation, Pete was drafted by the United States Army.  He did his basic training in 1966 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri with further training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.  Pete was then deployed to Qui Nhon in the Republic of South Vietnam in 1967 with the 64th Transportation Unit. His duty was to haul supplies from the Qui Nhon seaport base across the country to An Khe and Pleiku. Upon returning home, he went to work for the family business, Calmar Manufacturing Company.  On September 6, 1969, he was united in marriage to Alma Hageman at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar.  To this union three children were born: Corey, Amy, and Jennifer.  After marriage, Peter attended Area One Vocational School (NICC) for the building materials and management program while continuing to work at Calmar Manufacturing as a draftsman.  On June 8, 1970, he became a member of the Calmar Fire Department where he served for 47 years; 34 years as the Fire Chief.  He retired from Calmar Manufacturing in 2012.  Pete was a member of the St. Aloysius Catholic Church; Halverson-Giesen American Legion Post 266, serving as post adjutant; President of the Calmar senior citizens building committee, and an ardent supporter of various conservation organizations.  Pete was an avid sports fan, specifically the Hawkeyes, Cubs and the Packers.  He loved hunting and fishing, and spending time at Lil’ Lake Meyer.  Pete’s grandchildren were his biggest joy and they affectionately referred to him as “Papa Pete”.  In 2013, he was awarded the Quilt of Valor and in 2015 he was selected to go on the 22nd Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington D.C.  Pete will be greatly missed by many.      Pete is survived by his wife of 47 years, Alma. Three children: Corey (Christi) Meyer, Calmar; Amy (Eric) Thuente, Cedar Rapids; and Jennifer (Dan) Peters, Cedar Rapids.  Nine grandchildren: Carly, Cody and Caden Meyer; Evan, Lila, Jack and Audra Thuente; and Bryce and Aubrey Peters.  Sister: Nancy Condon, Decorah.  Brothers and sisters-in-law: Bernice Hackman, West Union; Dorothy (Elmer) Schmitt, Fort Atkinson; Mary (Melvin) Rausch, Fort Atkinson; LaVerne (Alice) Hageman, Fort Atkinson; Alfred (Louise) Hageman, Cedar Rapids; Theresa (Bob) Cunitz, Norwalk, WI; Joan Schissel, Decorah; and Jean Hageman, Decorah; along with many nieces and nephews.       Pete was preceded in death by his parents: Kenneth J. and Loraine Meyer.  Step mother: Katherine Meyer.  Father and Mother -in-law: Ignatius and Elizabeth Hageman.  Brothers-in-law: Urban Hageman, Leon Hageman, Alvin Hackman, and Lee Schissel. Nieces: Jill Read and Lori Milbrandt. Nephews: Mike Condon, Don Hackman, and Craig Brandt.     In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Peter K. Meyer Memorial Fund. The family would also like to encourage everyone to donate blood in Pete’s honor.      “The family wishes to thank you for the many prayers and neighborly acts of kindness. They are most grateful for the excellent care he received from the staffs at the Iowa City VA, Nashville VA, Decorah CBOC, WMC, Eastern Iowa VNA, Unity Point-St. Luke's, Cedar Rapids & Jones Regional. Finally, for the outpouring of acts of sympathy have been a comfort to Pete's Family.”