Ewald Meier

Ewald August Meier, 93, received his gift of eternal life on January 10, 2015, at Park Villa Nursing Home in Clyde, Kansas. Ewald was born July 25, 1921, to Emil and Sophie (Tewes) Meier at rural Palmer, Kansas. He was baptized on August 7, 1921, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Palmer, KS, by The Rev. J. G. B. Keller. He was confirmed in that baptismal faith on April 14, 1935, at St. John’s by The Rev. Wm. Miessler. Ewald’s confirmation verse was Psalm 27:1 – The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ewald attended St. John’s Lutheran School, Linn High School and graduated from St. John’s Academy and St. John’s College, Winfield, KS. He received a B.A. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO, serving a preaching-teaching vicarage at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Chicago, IL. He then decided to return to the family farm. After returning to the family farm southeast of Palmer, Ewald took over the dairy herd and Ewald and Eileen milked 40-60 head of Holstein cows. He was active in DHIA and AMPI. On June 10, 1951, he married Eileen Marin. After Eileen’s death in 1992, Ewald married Sonja Anderson on July 6, 1996, at Brantford Covenant Church, Clyde, KS. As a life-long member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, he served as president for many years and sang in the men’s choir. He also served on circuit and district Stewardship and Rural Church committees; was a member of the Kansas District Older Adult Ministry Task Force committee; and active in the Gideon organization. Ewald was also active in 4-H and Extension programs; received the Bankers Award for Soil Conservation; served on the school board; was elected to the Board of Directors of Kansas Farm Bureau and Affiliated Companies; member and chairman of American Farm Bureau Rural health Advisory Committee; in 1981 he received the Master Farmer Award from Kansas Association of Commerce and Industry; and was a member of People to People Agricultural Mission to the former Soviet Union in 1992. As a hobby, Ewald loved to serve as toastmaster and master of ceremonies for events such as wedding receptions, anniversaries, dedications, benefits or banquets, being known for his stories. Ewald was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eileen; his daughter, Carla; his brother, Everette; his sisters, Lorina Roetter and Betty Helms; his brothers-in-law, Lavern Hageman, Milburn Roetter and Ray Mierau; his sister-in-law, Doris Mierau; his grandson, Curtis Meier; his nephews, Dennis Roetter, Mark Helms, Jerry and Doug Marin; his niece, Sharon Helms; and his step-son, Richard Anderson. Survivors include his wife, Sonja, of Clyde; two sons, The Rev. David Meier and wife, Sherry, of Humboldt; Duane Meier and wife, Ronda, of Palmer; two step-sons, Daniel Anderson and wife, Barb, of Elkhart, IN, and Robert Anderson of Odessa, TX; step-daughter, Kathryn Scanland, of Chicago, IL; step daughter-in-law, Margie Anderson, Concordia; eight grandchildren, Cara Brooks and husband, John, Bartlesville, OK; Carisa Meier, Pompano Beach, FL; Peter Meier, Olathe; Dustin Meier and wife, Ranai, Washington; Amanda Welch and husband, Kent, Palmer; Tony Meier and wife, Traci, Palmer; Micah Meier, Palmer; and Samantha Meier, Palmer; six step-grandchildren, Jenny Mata and husband, Oscar, Elkhart; Emily J. Anderson, Elkhart; John Anderson and wife, Katie, Indianapolis, IN; Michael Anderson, El Paso, TX; Emily R. Anderson, Tulsa, OK; and Braden Anderson and wife, Kiersten, Tulsa; eight great-grandchildren; his sister, Elvie Hageman, Leonardville; sister-in-law, Lois Meier, Alliance, NE, brother-in-law, Edgar Helms, Linn; sister- and brother-in-law Stanley and Marcy Marin, Rushford, MN; and many nieces and nephews. May we cherish his memory. May God comfort those who survive. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 14 at 2:00PM at the St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Palmer, KS. Burial will be in the St. John Cemetery, rural Palmer, KS. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 13 from 4-7PM at the St. John's Lutheran Church, rural Palmer, KS. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon International, Lutheran Hour Ministries, or St. John’s Lutheran Church, Palmer.