Memorial service Tuesday for Warriors tennis coach

According to his obituary at thegazette.com, services for the late Cedar Rapids Washington tennis coach Dave Meyer will be held Monday and Tuesday. The funeral for Meyer, 49, who died unexpectedly Saturday at Mercy Medical Center, will be held Tuesday at Concordia Lutheran Church at 1 p.m. Visitations are scheduled at Teahan Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. and at the church at noon Tuesday.

Meyer is survived by his wife, Marlene, a daughter, Laurel, who is a student at the University of Northern Iowa, and a son, Andrew, who is a senior, and tennis player, for Cedar Rapids Jefferson.

Meyer, a Sioux City native and 1979 graduated at Sioux City East, earned a degree in Music Education from Morningside College in Sioux City in 1984. He taught special education at Washington, where he had been at for the last eight years. He was starting his sixth season as the Warriors head men's tennis coach, leading them to a 65-19 record and state team tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. Washington was runner-up in 2007 after placing third the previous year. Just last season, Meyer helped guide senior Charlie Hammond and sophomore Mitch Blades to a runner-up finish in state doubles competition.

"Dave touched many students ... his roster students, the students in the special education math classes, his tennis players and all who knew him," Washington Principal Ralph Plagman wrote on the school's home page (click the link for the complete message) addressing the Washington community Saturday with an update Sunday. "Dave Meyer was definitely one of the 'good guys' in every respect!"

Washington Athletics Director Paul James confirmed Meyer's death Saturday, saying he was informed that an ambulance had been called to the Meyer household. James shared a similar sentiment as Plagman.

"He was a valuable member of the staff in the classroom and in the athletic arena," James said. "He's really going to be missed by a lot of people."

There has been no official announcement as to who will take over Meyer's coaching duties.

Plagman also noted that the school is offering counselors, beginning Monday morning, for students and staff members to try and help them cope with the sudden loss of a member of the school. Due to the situation, the school is also delaying the start of annual Iowa Test of Educational Development (ITEDs) that was supposed to be held Monday as well.