Obit: Meyer, Dolores (1926 - 2013)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Casey, Daum, Egge, Haering, Johnson, Krueger, Meyer

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 02/21/2013

Meyer, Dolores "Dee" (Haering) (18 AUG 1926 - 14 FEB 2013)

Dolores "Dee" Meyer, 86, Medford, died on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013 in Wisconsin Rapids, where she resided the last four years.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb.18 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Medford, with Rev. James Krueger officiating. Pallbearers were family members, Wally Meyer, George Meyer, Joe Meyer, Rob Johnson, Conor Casey and John Egge.

Dolores Ann Haering was born on August 18, 1926 in Milwaukee. She was the daughter of Arno and Loretta (Daum) Haering. She attended Rufus King High School and then went to college for two years at Marquette University and the last two years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she graduated with a speech and language major.

On November 25, 1948, Thanksgiving Day, Dolores married Doctor Walther W. Meyer at the Church of the Epiphany in Milwaukee. They made their home in Medford for 60 years before Walther's death in 2009.

After being involved in community volunteer work for 25 years, Dolores became interested in politics by attending local party meetings. Dolores served four terms as Mayor of the City of Medford. During office she was actively involved in several planning commissions, the police and fire commission and Economic Development. She served four terms as alderman supervisor on the Medford City Council and the Taylor County Board of Supervisors. Dee was the first woman elected to either body. She served as president of the Medford Public Library and was on the Board of Trustees for 15 years.

She also served statewide on various library services. She has been a member of BPW, Woman's Auxiliary to the State Medical Society, Taylor County Red Cross, and the Performing Arts Association of Medford. She was a member of Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church and The Ladies of Immanuel. Dee started a small business in a historic building in downtown Medford called the Angel Flight. She had a unique eye for the unusual and collected new and old gifts for her antique store. As a result of all the above and more, Dee is a past recipient of the Medford Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dee is survived by her four children, Kristin Meyer of Donnelly, ID, Walther (Lauri) Meyer Jr. of Westboro, George F. Meyer II of Minneapolis, MN, and Ann (Paul) Egge of Wisconsin Rapids. Dee is survived by seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two nieces and two nephews; eight cousins; one brother, Arno "Bill" (Judy) Haering of Wausau; and one brother-in-law, William Meyer of La Crosse.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walther, on March 30, 2009, and her parents, Arno and Loretta.

Dee shared with her "country doctor" husband, his interests in conservation, tree farming, wildlife ponds and marsh development, and extensive miles of cross country ski trails at Trail Farm. A highlight of her community involvement in Medford was the development of the River Walk along the Mill Pond, including the bridges, flowers, gazebo, picnic tables, grills and fishing dock.

"Mom will be remembered for all the interests she had in life, one of the most notable was her love of cooking for her family. She was an avid reader, gardener, crafter and artist. One of her great joys in life was exploring Wisconsin's country roads for the unique and unusual. Her four children, and their children, have homes full of Mom's artistic creations. She will be dearly missed, but our memories are all around us.

"Thank you for your love and other gifts in our lives, beauty, grace, courage, joy, spontaneity, passion..., and a ferocious love of life."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to be given to the Medford River Walk development fund established in her name.

For online condolences, please visit www.hemerfuneralservice.com.