James Meyer

JAMES MEYER

Solon

James Paul Meyer, 68, of Solon passed away on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery where full military rites will be conducted by the Solon American Legion. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8, at the church, where there will be a 4 p.m. parish vigil. Brosh Chapel in Solon is in charge of arrangements.

James was born Sept. 17, 1945, to Paul Joseph and Mary (Brezo) Meyer. He graduated from Solon High School in 1963. Following graduation, Jim worked at Weyerhaeuser in Cedar Rapids until joining the U.S. Army in October 1965. He served in the Vietnam War as a clerk typist from October 1966 to September 1967. Jim came home and worked at Dearborn Brass in Cedar Rapids and at his true passion of farming. Jim was united in marriage to Joette Ann Krall on Sept. 20, 1974, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City. They raised one son, Matthew.

He began working for the Solon schools in 1984 as a bus driver and custodian. Jim took over the head custodian position at Lakeview Elementary in 1993. He enjoyed the time spent with his family and friends as much as he could. He loved being with his son, especially seeing him marry Carrie, even if it was when he was hospitalized at the U of I.

Sitting on the deck at home with Joette with a cold beverage and talking the night away, Hawkeye football and meeting Coach Ferentz, the Solon Spartans where he would watch his "adopted" grandson Kolby Melsha play football, the Washington Redskins, NASCAR racing, fishing and family time at the Krall pond were all important parts of Jim's life. He was a great supporter of the community and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church as well as the Solon American Legion. Jim was a kind and gentle soul with a hearty and infectious laugh. He will be greatly missed.

Jim is survived by his wife, Joette; his son, Matthew (Carrie) Meyer; his sister, Judy (Jim) Shulista; and a brother-in-law, Mike (Candy) Krall, all of Solon; sister-in-law, Kris (Don) Murphy of West Branch; mother-in-law, Rita C. Krall of Iowa City; grandchildren, Carmen, R.J. and a baby granddaughter expected in October; nephews and nieces, Scott (Karen) Shulista and their children Brandon and Aaron, Darin (Jenny) Shulista and their daughter Brooke, Kurt Shulista and his children Makayla and Brayden, Angela (Mike) Klinkkammer and their children Lexi, Aly and Eli, Luke Murphy, Jeremy Krall, Jamie (Cory) Gebel and their daughter Rylan, and Jodie Krall.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a father-in-law, Joseph H. Krall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to be donated to the Solon Fire Department or to the Solon American Legion.

The family would like to thank the hardworking doctors and incredible nursing staffs at both St. Mary's Mayo in Rochester and UIHC for their tender loving care and kindness for Jim.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.broshchapel.com.