Norman H. Meyer
Norman H. Meyer, 88, a consulting structural engineer in Rockford, Ill. until 2006, died April 21, 2018, at his home. He worked on projects all over the Midwest. He was the beloved and devoted husband of Anne D. Meyer for 62 years and is survived by her.
He was born Jan. 17, 1930 on a farm in Lorraine, Kan., to Harvey and Delia Meyer of Holyrood. He studied architecture and engineering at the University of Illinois, and served in the Airforce in Japan (as an installations engineer) during the Korean War. Not long after he married Anne Davis of Cherry Valley, Ill., he and Anne settled on a farm on Bell School Road in Rockford to raise their five children: Karl Meyer, Lorraine, Kan.; Carrie Meyer, Silver Spring, Md.; Daniel Meyer (deceased, 1982); Rebecca Baeverstad, Rockford, Ill.; and Eric Meyer, Rockford, Ill.
He and his father, Harvey, built the family home where he lived until his death. Farming, in the evenings and on weekends, allowed him to spend quality time with his family.
In addition to being a brilliant structural engineer, he was skilled craftsman, an all-purpose handy man, a man of many talents and interests. He loved to travel, enjoyed fishing and photography, and he and Anne made wine from wild grapes for many years. After Anne took over Ender’s Greenhouse in Cherry Valley in 1972, Norm was kept busy with innumerable fix-it challenges for the 1920-structure. He was active member of the Rockford Kiwanis Club throughout his career in Rockford, and enjoyed working with his family at Kiwanis Pancake Days. He expanded his farming interests back to Kansas in the early 1980s, purchasing family farm land there. When his son, Karl, moved to Kansas to farm the land and raise a family, they enjoyed sharing the farming experience. In his retirement, Norm helped move two barns to Midway Village Museum that he and Anne donated.
He was, above all, a devoted family man and a man of faith. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, Ill.
Norm is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Ziekert (Wilfred), Branson Mo.; brother, Warren Meyer (Sylvia), San Diego, Calif.; sister-in-law, Gladys Meyer, Tempe, Ariz.; four grand-daughters, RaeAnne Meyer Joiner and Lindsey Meyer, both of Tampa, Fla. and Molly Baeverstad Cherland and Sarah Baeverstad, both of Minneapolis, Minn; and two great-grandchildren, James Joiner and Karson Joiner, as well as in-laws, nieces, nephews, and their children.
He was predeceased by his parents; and brother, Eugene Meyer.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 18, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Belvidere, Ill.
Arrangements are being handled by Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Rockford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Holyrood Santa Fe Depot Restoration Project, Holyrood, Kan.
