Donald Henry Meyer

DONALD HENRY MEYER

Cedar Rapids

Donald Henry Meyer, 96, loving husband, father, grandfather and cherished friend to all who knew him, passed peacefully to his eternal life on Monday, Aug. 16, 2021, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids. Friends and family may visit from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at the Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors.

Don was born on April 3, 1925, in Burlington, Iowa, to Henry and Lydia (Brenneke) Meyer. He graduated from Burlington High School in 1942 and attended junior college for one year before being drafted. He entered the U.S. Army military service in September 1943 and received basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. He went on to the University of San Francisco for pre-engineering coursework under the Army Specialized Training Program. When the program was cancelled in late March 1944, he returned to Fort Benning and joined the 71st Infantry Division, where he received training as a radio operator and repairman. The 71st division was sent to Europe in January 1945 and entered combat duty in southern France. Don served in the ETO for approximately 18 months and was honorably discharged in April 1946. He received the Bronze Medal of Honor in 1947 for action under combat. He was very proud of his military service and loved to tell stories about it to anyone who would listen.

It was June of 1943 in Burlington, before being drafted into the Army, that Donald met the love of his life, Deloris Katherine Luber. Fate played a part in their meeting as they were on a double date with one of Donald's friends, but not with each other! Driving through the streets of Burlington that first night when Donald met Deloris, he told his friend that Deloris was the one he wanted to pursue. A couple of weeks later Donald walked right up to her as she sat outside with her friends in the downtown area, and he asked her out. They "eloped" on Oct. 23, 1944, just weeks before the 71st Army Division left for Europe. Don and Deloris spent over 75 years together before Deloris passed in July 2020.

After returning from military service, Don and Deloris lived in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he attended Indiana Tech and received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering. He then joined Bendix Aviation in South Bend for six years. In July 1954, Don began 31 rewarding years at Collins Radio working on design and system analysis of avionics equipment. During his Collins years, he completed an M.S. degree at the University of Notre Dame in 1957 and a Ph.D. degree in 1967 at the University of Iowa, both in electrical engineering. He was credited with two patents at Collins. He also enjoyed serving as an adjunct engineering professor at Northern Illinois University and Iowa State University.

Don and Deloris were members of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Don served as an elder and enjoyed singing in the choir. He loved to spend time at the church and volunteered for many functions. He and Deloris and their three children enjoyed family vacations with other members of the congregation at Bear Trap Ranch during the summers in Colorado.

Above all, Don was a thoughtful, charming soul who lived a humble life built around relationships with family and friends. He loved music and was an exceptional piano player. He loved playing card and board games, especially with family, neighbors and with his bridge club. And for the last 60 years, he has managed his life with Type 1 Diabetes by keeping a positive attitude and discipline like no other - and having Deloris by his side.

Donald is survived by his three children, Tom, Orland, Ind., Debra, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Karen Iowa City, Iowa; grandchildren, Matthew, Celeste, Emily, Rebecca, Maxwell, Jackson and Lewis; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Meeting him in eternal life are his dear Deloris; his parents, Henry and Lydia Meyer; brother, Richard; and numerous other family members and in-laws.

Memorial donations may be directed to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1285 Third Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.