"We started our family next door to Greta & Edgar on Colby St. Kinder & more generous neighbors can\'t be found. Our sympathies and condolences to your family. Mike & Stephanie Rooney"
In loving memory of
Greta E. Meyer
March 12, 1931 - June 11, 2021
A funeral service for Greta will be on Monday, June 21, 2021, at 10:30 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Algona, IA. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Riverview cemetery. Services will be live-streamed on the Trinity Lutheran Church's YouTube page: https://youtu.be/gi-gaNVt5Hk
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Trinity Lutheran Church.
This is an obituary for a mother from a child - even if the child is now a grandparent. This is an important distinction in remembering Greta Elaine Meyer (Fowler). And that first name is pronounced "GREE-ta". She'd want that straight up front. To her children she was just 'mom' and she was 'a mom' to countless neighborhood children, nephews, nieces, and exchange students. A lot of kids grew up in her house over the years. First, a house on Colby Street in Algona she shared with her husband Edgar Martin Meyer until after his death in 2001. Then the house she always wanted for a big family and built south of town even though she was now a widowed 'empty nester.'
Greta was a great caregiver you see. A 'suffering servant' as her husband would say. She was a registered nurse with a background covering emergency rooms to rest homes. A nurse to young children in a Head Start across nine counties in Iowa. She would eventually become the Director of that program. When she retired, she still returned to cover shifts at Kossuth County Medical Center or to bring ailing or aging friends to medical appointments in Mason City or Fort Dodge. Lest residents at Good Samaritan would have a birthday not recognized to the level she would want, she baked and decorated cakes for everyone one of them. For almost 50 years she did this. She baked confirmation cakes and graduation cakes for not just her family, but for anyone she felt could use one. She once baked/decorated a cake for her son's new middle school teacher who he thought was being tormented by an unruly class.
Almost all her kids (and that was any kid who frequented the house) had their own nicknames with accompanying poetic flourishes -some original some plagiarized. Itsy... was 'Itsy Bitsy Toodlum Goo, come and sing a song or two'. Missy... was 'Little Missy Muffett sat on a tuppet.' Bundle Bug came with 'A bug is a rug as a rug is a bug.' There was Kenter Wenter Hipper Hopper Ripper snorter snipper snopper and Mr. Magoo he did it again. There were Tiny Tears, Bumper, Holly Dolly, .... countless of these and they carried through until these 'kids' were nearing Social Security.
Mom was fiercely competitive and tried not to show it. A game of Hearts, Chinese Checkers, or 500 against her kids and grandkids was 'no holds barred'. A flower show with the Algona Garden Club was a time to pull out all the stops for that coveted silver tray.
It was good mom was competitive. She was fortunate to have survived when she was born March 12th, 1931 on the family farm outside Ottosen, IA to Kermit and Lillian Fowler. She weighed less than four pounds at birth in a coal or often corn cob heated farmhouse built by her grandfather. The materials for that house came by train from Sears and Roebucks.
She was an only child for seven years until her brother, James Fowler, was born. She graduated from Ottosen High School. She went to Fairview Nursing School for four years in St. Paul, MN, and had become romantically linked with a farmer's son across the road from her home who was serving in the Navy. They would marry on New Year's Day, 1955.
They would have five children: a son Kris Martin; son Bret Henry; daughter Lisa Elaine; son Macy Fowler; and daughter Marcy Janelle (Kaufman). Lisa would die shortly after birth and mom would visit and decorate her grave until she was physically incapable. She spent every Memorial Day traveling to countless cemeteries within a day's drive honoring everyone who had passed in her family and even the graves of friends or the children of those friends.
She would have twelve grandchildren from her four surviving children and she tragically outlived three of these. At the time of her death on Friday, June 11th, she would have 14 great-grandchildren.
The world has lost a great caregiver. You can amplify her life by giving care anywhere and anyway you can.
Tributes
"Meyer family, I am so sorry for your loss. Greta and my Mom had such laughs at ladies circle, walking in Call Park, faculty get togethers and all the other ways they found to have fun. Greta always wore the best smile! God Bless, "
"After reading her story, I can truly say that she was a remarkable lady! My condolences to the whole family. Linda (Becker) Armbrecht formerly from Burt, Iowa and now from Colo, Iowa."
"Greta and Edgar were another great part of my childhood in Ottosen! Good friends of my folks, laughter and games. Mom and Greta did a lot of nursing together through the years, too! God blessed Greta to be a blessing throughout her life! May we all follow suit. "
"The world has lost a beautiful angel, my family and i will never forget hers or edgars kindness\' Thank you for being such a special friend\' Les and andrea braun, brittany walker, michael and jasper walker"
"Kris, Bret, Macy, and Marcy. I?m so sorry to hear about Greta. I spent a lot of time in the Colby Street neighborhood and the Meyers were always so welcoming. "
"Kris, Bret, Macy, and Marcy. I?m so sorry to hear about Greta. I spent a lot of time in the Colby Street neighborhood and the Meyers were always so welcoming. "
"As that middle school teacher who was the recipient of the decorated cake, I can attest to her kindness and generosity. She and Edgar were Algona treasures. I feel so lucky to have known them and their offspring. Deepest sympathy to you all. "
"Meyer Family, You are in my thoughts and prayers. I always enjoyed my visits with her. She was so proud of all of you and loved you so much. Take care. "
"I am so sorry to hear about Greta she was a wonderful person. I grew up on Colby Street and I felt like we were all part of a big family! Lots of beautiful memories always cherish those beautiful memories! God Bless"
"I remember when you lived on North Street before the move to Colby St. We played together with Mary and Mark Montag, Walt Bradley and the Cassel boys. Maybe Kris remembers us. Your Mom and Dad were wonderful people. My sympathy to all of you. May your memories bring you joy and smiles forever. Char Lemkee"
"A fantastic lady. So sorry for your loss."