Dr. Donald Paul Meyer

Donald Meyer was a member of what Tom Brokaw termed The Greatest Generation, men who knew the meaning of sacrifice, were loyal, reliable, patriotic, and level-headed. Don had a strong sense of responsibility and duty, and was willing to accept the consequences of a decision. He was frugal and worked hard to provide financial security for his family, working his way up from teacher to college administrator and sending six children to college. He was a do-it-yourselfer who could fix or make anything. He was committed to his wife and family and was the most loyal and generous of friends. He was a born leader and a respected administrator. Don was born at home on March 17, 1926. His proud parents were George and Emma (Weippert) Meyer. Don was the second child in a large family: Marcella, Jim, Esther, Paul, and Joan. The Meyer family lived in Bach, Michigan, where George Meyer farmed sugar beets. All the kids helped out around the farm according to Don, working in the beet fields was the worst job! Don attended elementary school in a one room school house. His high school (Gagetown High School) wasnt much larger his graduating class had only twelve people. Despite the small class size, Don still had a rich educational experience, which included playing on the school baseball and basketball teams, as well as starring in the school play Aaron Slick of Pumpkin Crick. Dons family was proud of him when he graduated from high school in 1944 as the first member of his family to do so. Dons natural leadership qualities were evident even in high school; in a rural county before the days of school buses the board voted to buy him a car to pick up area students and take them to school. After graduation, Don enlisted in the Navy. He served as a quartermaster at the end of WWII during the Japanese reconstruction. Upon his return to the States, Don enrolled as an undergraduate at Central Michigan University. Four years later, he left CMU with a Bachelors degree, and, more importantly, a girlfriend: Rosalie Ann Johnson. Don and Rosalie met their sophomore year, and started dating during their senior year. The young couple soon decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together and were married on August 18, 1951 in Onekama, Michigan. In the years from 1952 to 1962, Don and Rosalie were blessed by the births of six children: Jean, Dan, Karen, Sara, Judi and Eric. Eric died tragically at the young age of 19 after a three-year fight against cancer. Don was a rock of stability for the family in this difficult time, truly a man of The Greatest Generation. His first job as a married man was as a chemistry teacher in Tawas City, Michigan. Two years later the young couple moved to Eaton Rapids, Michigan, also for a teaching position. Don would change jobs several times in the course of his career, moving up from junior high teacher; to school principal in Fairgrove, Michigan; and superintendent of Houghton Lake Schools. He earned a masters degree while holding down a full-time job (University of Michigan, 1958), and continued his higher education to complete a doctorate degree in education (Michigan State University, 1968). He took only one year off while completing his final degree. His hard work and sacrifice paid off; he quickly advanced his career to Dean of College Services at Johnson County Community College, in Overland Park, Kansas; Dean of College Services at St. Clair County Community College and, finally, Dean of Business at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, Michigan. He retired in 1989. Don loved the camaraderie of deer hunting, and later shared this avocation with his son Dan. He also enjoyed working on cars and restoring them, carpentry, and woodworking. He passed many hours playing cards with his friends and family it was again the camaraderie of the game that he loved. He didnt actually care if he won or lost, although Don was the man to beat. Don took his family on many trips around the country; some favorite destinations were the Grand Tetons, Sequoia National Park, Padre Island, and the Black Hills. Don contributed his intellect and talents to many local organizations: Pioneer Resources, AMBUCS, Kiwanis Club, Norton Shores city government. He organized Tip-Up Town in Houghton Lake, served on the Muskegon Downtown Development Committee, and was active in the Lakeshore Transplant Support Group. In 2009, Dons beloved wife Rosalie declined in health. Don was supportive and loving to the last, spending many hours every day by her side in the nursing home until she passed away the day before his birthday. Don had a second chance at love when he met Agnes Jurgens en route to Seattle in the Detroit Airport. Don and Agnes started chatting, and realized that they had a lot in common, including having been students at CMU at the same time. His children believe Agnes was an angel sent to their father to lift him from his grief and engage him again in life. Don will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by his son and daughters, grandchildren, sisters, relatives, and many friends. Dr. Meyer died unexpectedly of natural causes on Wednesday, January 25 at the age of eighty-five. Dons family includes his daughters, Jean (Bob) Cross of KS, Karen (Jeff Seckendorf) Meyer of LA, Sara (Dan) Gleason of Niles, and Judi (Todd) Galloway of Grand Rapids; his son, Dan (Eileen) Meyer of PA; his grandchildren, Chris Meyer, Elyse Clemens, Andrew Cross, Maggie Gleason, Jonathan Gleason, Rachel Gleason, Alecia Galloway, Amy Galloway, Corrine Galloway, Nikki Cross, Bethany Alexander, Megan Weissert, and Joseph Kelly; his great-grandchildren, Isabelle Sullivan, Marti Clemens, Caitlyn Weissert, Dawsyn Alexander, Owen Alexander, and Kylar Slapar; his sisters, Esther (Jack) Conners of Bay City and Joan (Bob) Nemeth of Saginaw; his sister-in-law, Dorothy Meyer of Auburn; many nieces and nephews; and his companion, Agnes Jurgens. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie, in 2009 and his son, Eric, in 1982. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel Muskegon. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Rev. Mark Miller will officiate with Military Honors under the Auspices of the Muskegon County Council of Veterans. Memorial donations may be made to Pioneer Resources or Lakeshore Transplant Support Group. Please visit Dons personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com to learn more about his life, leave a memory, or sign the online guest book.