Marvin A. Meyer

Marvin A. Meyer

Col. Marvin Alfred Meyer (retired), 87, died Saturday, June 22, 2013, at Unity Point Health-Finley Hospital. Services were at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Burial was at Linwood Cemetery where full military rites were accorded by American Legion Dubuque Post 6.

He was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on October 16, 1925, son of Martin M. and Laura C. Meyer. He married Myrtle Marie Gritti on Nov. 27, 1954, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

He graduated from Loras Academy in 1943 and was attending college when he was drafted into World War II. He served in the 86th (Blackhawk) Infantry Division in Europe, where he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and the Bronze Star. When the war ended in Europe he was transferred to the Philippines in preparation for the invasion of Japan. He returned home in 1946 but remained in the Army Reserve. He was a member of the 389th Engineer Construction Battalion in Dubuque for 17 years, serving for three years as battalion commanding officer. He then became an instructor in the 5041st U.S. Army Reserve School for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal upon his retirement as a colonel after 37 years of military service.

Marvin was a field representative at the Dubuque Social Security Office for more than 30 years, serving five counties (Clayton, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson and Jones) until his retirement in 1986.

He was a member of the Dubuque Rotary Club for 40 years, having 30 years of perfect attendance. He was a member of the YMCA from 1946 until 2000, when bad hips forced him to stop. He had served on its board of directors for a dozen years. For many years he enjoyed playing volleyball.

Surviving are his wife, Myrtle; two daughters, Andrea Jane Susan (Mark) Samek of Garwin, Iowa, and Barbara Sue Allyson Meyer (Chadly Koppenhaver) of Minneapolis; one grandson, Joshua Mark David Samek of San Diego; a sister-in-law, Rosemary (Robert) Meyer of Dubuque; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Gene, Vernon, and Robert; and one sister, Ruth.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Marvin Meyer Memorial Fund.