Joanne Meyer

Joanne Grace Meyer earned her angel wings on December 17, 2021 in Atlantic, Iowa. She was born November 22, 1934, to Arthur and Myrtle Ahrenholtz in Manilla, IA. She was the youngest of four children. Unfortunately, Joanne’s father passed away Christmas Day 1934, so she didn’t get to know him like her siblings did. Her stepfather, Henry Meyer, was the father figure in her life.

Joanne graduated from Manilla High School in 1953 where she was a member of the basketball team and an All-State Choir participant. She then attended Radiology Tech training at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. She worked for Cass County Hospital as a Radiology tech from there on out until her retirement in 1997.

Joanne was united in marriage to Arthur William Meyer on May 29, 1955. They then moved to Atlantic, Iowa to begin their lives together. They raised three children: Greta Jo, Gregory Arthur, and Grant William in the little house on the hill on Ridge Road. They built their lives together in this house with memories of family and fun around every corner. Joanne was also a world traveler. She and Art would spend summers galivanting around Wyoming and Colorado with the Ahrenholtz and Klein families. They would eventually make it to every continental state whether for family vacation or for Art to further his education. They also traversed the state of Iowa for various reasons to see family. They even traveled worldwide together through their activities in Kiwanis. Jo also continued to travel after Art’s passing to see family and friends.

Jo had a deep love for anything that brought her close to her family. She went to every musical performance, bowling tournament, or ball game she could for her grandchildren. She would go to the ends of the earth for all four of them: Tiffany, Nathan, Ashley, and Benjamin. She loved to talk on the phone with her many nieces and nephews and couldn’t wait to catch up with them whenever possible. Joanne was a voracious reader, especially of Danielle Steel. She could never seem to get enough of her. She loved that her neighbor Julie would keep her supplied with books. Puzzles were also another favorite pastime of hers. Jo also loved to spend time in her beautiful garden, watching the butterflies, cardinals, and squirrels whenever she could. The various gardens she and Art had over the years were always the highlight of their summers. Joanne also loved spending time with the Red Hat Ladies at their lunch dates and various activities throughout the community. She was also very active in several St. Paul church circles.

Preceding Joanne in death was her husband of 50 years, Arthur William Meyer; her siblings: Eunice Mansfield, Doris Klein, and Donald Ahrenholtz; her stepfather, Henry Meyer; her mother, Myrtle Meyer; and her father, Arthur Ahrenholtz. She is survived by her children: Greta Anderson (Terry), Greg Meyer (Wendy), and Grant Meyer (Julie Mathias); her grandchildren: Tiffany Bagley (Alan), Nathan Meyer (Holli Langman), Benjamin Anderson, and Ashley Presley (Brandon); many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Services are set for 11 am, Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Atlantic, IA followed by burial in the Atlantic Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 4 pm until 7 pm at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. Memorials can be made to: American Cancer Society and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and left or mailed to the funeral home at P.O. Box 523 – Atlantic, IA. The Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic, Iowa is caring for the Meyer family at this time and condolences can be sent at: schmidtfamilyfh.com.