July 20, 1937 - February 17, 2023
Barbara Joyce Meyer was born July 20, 1937, at home near Burt. She is the daughter of Arie Joyce and Maxine Etna (Mitchell) Dittmer. She grew up on a farm near Burt, attended country school and then graduated from Burt High School in 1955. Prior to her marriage she worked at J.C. Penney and the Algona Reminder newspaper in Algona.
On July 14, 1957, she was united in marriage to EuClaire Ernest Meyer at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Burt. They farmed east of Burt where they raised their two children. Barb also worked in her earlier years as a bookkeeper for Louis Riedel in his feed business and the Burt elevator. In 1973, she began working for the Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge, retiring in 1996. She served with pride as a United States civil servant in helping to improve the refuge for visitors and wildlife management and especially of helping to release the first pairs of swans to the area. Barb enjoyed visiting with friends, farming with EuClaire, and attending her children and grandchildren’s school and sports activities and playing with her pets. She was well known for wonderful baking and cooking of bountiful meals.
Barbara J. Meyer died Friday, Feb. 17 at the Titonka Care Center, at the age of 85. She had been a resident there since September of 2022.
She is survived by two children, Terry (Constance) Meyer of Johnston; Brenda Joyce (Jeff) Schutjer of Titonka; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; Derek (Katie) Schutjer and daughter Kolynns of Wesley; Stacey (Zach) Myers and daughter Greta of Prairie City; Ben, Alex and Chris Meyer of Johnston, and Brittany Meyer (Jacob Eddy) of West Layfette, Ind.. She is also survived by a brother, Duane (Barb) Dittmer of Burt; a brother-in-law, Henry Friedrich, of Algona; and nieces and nephews and their families.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband EuClaire on Nov. 13, 2018; a granddaughter, Britta Sue Meyer, in infancy; a brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Eugene and Eunice Meyer; and Evelyn Friedrich.
A Memorial service will be held Saturday, Feb. 25 at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burt with Pastor Thomas Cowell officiating. The funeral will be livestreamed on the church’s YouTube page. Her family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will be in East Lawn Cemetery in Algona. Oakcrest Funeral Services of Algona in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com.