James E. Meyer

James E. Meyer, 91, died at 3 a.m. Sunday, January 15, 2017 at Hawthorne Inn in Galesburg.

He was born Aug. 12, 1925, in Denver, Colorado, to Ruby J. Pehrson and Louis F. Meyer. After serving in World War II, he completed a B.S. degree in chemical engineering at Denver University in 1949. While in college, he courted Betty L. Lidke, also of Denver, and married her after graduation.

He was hired as an engineer for Gates Rubber Co. and retired as a corporate director after over 38 years of service. He held leadership positions with a number of civic organizations including the Knoxville School Board, Soangetaha Country Club, Galesburg Rotary, SCORE, and the Fair Acres North Home Owners Association. He was an instructor at Carl Sandburg College, a food lift volunteer for Cottage Hospital, and a prison counselor at Henry Hill Correctional Center. In his free time, he enjoyed golf, travel, gardening, bird watching, and reading.

He is survived by four daughters, Laura Davis of Mt. Vernon, Julie (husband Robert) White of Savage, Minnesota, Paula (husband Larry) Cusick of Westminster, Colorado, and Carol (husband Steven) Cramer of Dahinda; 11 grandchildren; and 29 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and a son-in-law, Michael Davis.

A private service for family members will take place on Friday in Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Entombment will be in the mausoleum at Oak Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Galesburg Rescue Mission. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.