ORVILLE MEYER Obituary

Orville Louis Meyer passed away on March 23 at Friendship Village Retirement Community in Schaumburg, Illinois at age 91. He is survived by Rae nee Heidbreder Meyer, his wife of 67 years; his son Cliff (Bonnie) Meyer of Springfield, OH; his son Len (Georgette) Meyer of Hoffman Estates, IL; grandchildren: Chad Meyer, Dr. Keili (Dr. Justin) Mistovich, Lari, Rachel, and Jeff Meyer; step-granddaughter Tracy (Chris) McCurley; and great grandchildren: Madeleine Mistovich, and Hannah and Tyler McCurley. Orville was born on November 25, 1922 in St. Louis, MO to John and Lydia (Rathjen) Meyer and was brother to Dolores Sophia Meyer all deceased. He attended Harris Grade School and Beaumont High School where he was a member of its state championship tennis squad. After high school he attended Rolla (Missouri) School of Mines until called into military service in 1943 with the U.S. Third Army in Europe as part of the 679th Engineering Company - Topographic where he rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant. In addition to generating combat field maps, his company reproduced some of the photographic evidence utilized in the Nuremberg War Trials. After his military discharge in 1946, he returned to St. Louis where he met and later married Rae on February 15, 1947. He earned a B.S. degree with emphasis in industrial engineering from Washington University, was a registered Professional Engineer in Manufacturing Engineering, and spent a career as an industrial engineer before retiring in 1987. He was a long time member of Bethany E & R Church, St. Stephen's UCC in Baden, MO; and St. Paul's UCC in Oakville, MO. For health reasons Orville and Rae moved to Schaumburg in 2011 to be closer to family. To his wife he was a loving, devoted companion to the end. To his sons he was an exemplary role model on how to love and honor his own parents and in-laws, and on how to be a good husband and father. A man of character, kindness, infinite patience, and quiet dignity, he spoke ill of no one. He was a loyal friend to all. His ashes will be interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis following a memorial service to be held in the spring.