William J. Meyer left his earthly home on Wednesday June 1, 2022, at 85 years of age, to join family and friends in heaven.
William was born Sept. 13, 1936, to William and Katharina (Rickers) Meyer at Odell. He attended country school in rural Gage County and high school at Odell Public Schools, graduating in 1954.
He was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), Odell, where he received the rites of baptism and confirmation.
After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army from April 16, 1957, to April 15, 1959. His basic training was done at Fort Chafee at Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was then stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. He was a clerk typist in the Adjutant General’s office while enlisted. Prior to entering the army, he met Lola Mae Holle at a Walther League event shared by local churches in the area. He and his childhood friend, Robert Henrichs, would become brothers-in-law after discovering the beautiful Holle girls at a chance meeting. William and Lola Mae were married Dec. 13, 1959, in Bremen, Kansas.
Upon returning back to Nebraska, he worked for Krotz Stock Farms in Odell. While residing in Odell, he was a councilman and mayor in the small village. He was a lifetime member of the Odell American Legion post 231. In 1967, he and his family moved to Crete to take a position with the United States Postal Service as a mail carrier. He retired in 1991 after 23 years of service. His favorite saying before leaving for work on any given day was “keys, rubber stamps and money orders,” some of the things he needed when filling in at the post office window to assist customers. Bill, as most people knew him, was kind, caring, generous and thoughtful, and was also known to be quite ornery in his lifetime. His children remember him as stern while growing up, but always as one of their biggest cheerleaders. He enjoyed faithfully attending his children and grandchildren’s events. Those memories are forever left to cherish and appreciate. He also enjoyed part-time jobs at Ahlschwede Ford, the Journal Star Agency in Crete, where paper carriers came to their home to retrieve and deliver the daily paper to customers in the Crete area and lastly, Crete Foodmart. In his spare time he enjoyed the Nebraska Cornhusker and Kansas City Royals games. He was an avid pheasant hunter and fisherman, also. He shared his love of these with many.
Those who are left celebrating his life are Lola Mae (Holle), his wife of 62 years; daughter, Patricia (John) Stehlik, son, Brian (Penny) Meyer, and daughter, Sheila (Gary) Neeman; grandchildren, Sarah, Michael and Kayla Stehlik; Patrick (Brienna), Brett and Brooke Meyer; and great-grandson, Ronnie Meyer; and Tara Neeman; great-grandchildren, Bryley Holmes, Keaton and Preslynn Trass; great-great-granddaughter, Mila Valentine; sister-in-law, Darlene Henrichs, in addition to many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Katharina (Katie) Meyer and an infant brother; parents in law, Carl and Marie (Mamie Schotte) Holle, Wilma Holle, Clifford and Norma (Holle) Urban, Ludwig and Verda (Holle) Pralle and Robert Henrichs.
The funeral service was June 7 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Crete with interment at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dale, Galen and Mark Pralle, Lynn Henrichs, Bryce Urban and Boyd Navratil. Honorary pallbearers were his grandchildren, Sarah, Michael and Kayla Stehlik; Patrick, Brienna, Brett and Brooke Meyer and Tara Neeman. Memorial contributions are suggested to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or Crete Rescue. Condolences may be left for the family online at incolnfh.com.
