Wayne Otto Meyer was born on Feb. 3, 1935, in Smith County, Kansas, to Otto Meyer and Ida Zabel Meyer. He passed away on Feb. 26, 2024, in the loving presence of family members. He was 89.
He grew up on a farm southeast of Gaylord with his brothers: Irvin, Waldean, Delmer, and Richard, and one sister, Berniel. For the past few years, he has been the last surviving Meyer sibling of his generation.
He graduated from Gaylord High School in 1952, attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and served in the Kansas Army National Guard.
On Feb. 2, 1959, he married Loretta Wilson. The couple celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago with all of their descendants present.
Wayne and Loretta’s two sons, Marc and Darren, attended school in Gaylord and Smith Center. Their parents taught them to value faith, family, and hard work.
Wayne’s life’s work was farming and raising cattle. He frequently told stories of driving a tractor in the hayfield at the age of 6. He hauled cattle and leveled ground for irrigation for Harry Dannenberg, and eventually he and Loretta settled on the Wilson family land southwest of Gaylord, where he spent most of his farming years. He always fixed his and repaired his own equipment. He also drove a school bus. All the grandchildren cherish memories of spending time with Grandpa and Grandma on the farm and traveling with them on vacation, and they will never forget his jokes.
Wayne enjoyed attending livestock sales and state fairs in Kansas and Nebraska and vacationing in Estes Park, Colo. He loved to read, and he especially loved talking with everyone he met.
In 2006, Wayne and Loretta retired to Smith Center. The Meyers had been long-time members of the Gaylord Community Church and had more recently attended worship at the Church of the Nazarene and at Sun Porch, both in Smith Center.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Loretta, of Smith Center; sons Marc Meyer (Suzy) of Cortez, Colo., and Darren Meyer (Patricia) of Smith Center; grandchildren Jacob Meyer (Stephanie Campbell) of Fort Collins, Colo., Katie Meyer-Jensen (Tyler) of Denver, Colo., Blake Meyer (Samantha) of Smith Center, Cara Kingsbury (Ross) of Smith Center, and Alese Meyer, currently attending Fort Hays State University; and great-grandchildren Elliot Meyer, Wesley Meyer-Jensen, Karsyn Meyer, and Beckham Meyer.