Gaylord Meyer
Gaylord O. Meyer, age 97, of Kearney, formerly of Shelton, passed away December 10, 2024, at Mount Carmel Home in Kearney.
Funeral services were held Saturday, December 14, at the United Methodist Church in Shelton. Pastor Michelle Byerly officiated. Burial was in the Shelton Cemetery with military honors. Memorials are suggested to the Shelton Volunteer Fire Department or the United Methodist Church.
Apfel Funeral home is assisting with arrangements, online condolences may be left at www. apfelfuneralhome.com.
Gaylord Odell Meyer was born at the family home November 2, 1927, in Campbell, the son of Herman and Florence (Koch) Meyer. Gaylord was the oldest of 13 children.
He was baptized and confirmed at the Campbell Presbyterian Church. Growing up in a close family during the depression, Gaylord enjoyed singing, dancing, ice skating, and roller skating.
Gaylord grew up in Campbell and attended school there, graduating with the class of 1945. He proudly served with the U.S.
Army beginning in January of 1951, during the Korean War, and was honorably discharged in October of 1956. He was honored to attend the Korean War Hero Flight to Washington, D.C., with his son, Kevin in June, 2014.
He married Joan Miller on May 26, 1951, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Holstein. They celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary this year. To this union they were blessed with five children, Galen, Diane, Janet, Kevin and Linda. They lived their married life in Shelton in the home that Gaylord helped build. They moved to Prairie View Garden in Kearney in 2017 and Mount Carmel Home in September 2024.
Gaylord started his career with Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company in 1948 in his hometown of Campbell. In 1952, he was transferred to Shelton and retired after 41 1⁄2 years of employment with KN Energy.
He enjoyed fishing and especially enjoyed his fishing trips to Canada, even after surviving a plane crash with his son, Galen near Flin Flon, Manitoba, in 1981. Gaylord could fix anything around his house or the neighborhood. He also was a talented wood craftsman and loved tinkering in his garage making toys, including planes, trains, and cars for his grandchildren to ride in for the Fourth of July parades. He made several wooden Christmas displays to decorate their family home, rocking chairs, canoes, benches and other numerous projects. His prize was making his own boat.
Gaylord was an active member of the United Methodist Church where he served in various offices and committees. He was a member of the United Methodist Men, Shelton American Legion Post 297, VFW, Shelton Volunteer Fire Department, Shelton Township Cemetery Board, Shelton School Board, and Elks. Gaylord served as chairman of the Shelton Housing Authority and served on the Shelton Village Board where he was mayor 1976-1977.
He was a caring man with a deep love for his family.
Surviving family include his children, Diane (Donnell) Bombeck, of Shelton, Jan (Steve) Spellman, of Kearney, Kevin Meyer, of Shelton, Linda Hansen, of Lincoln, and daughter-in-law, Kim Meyer, of Grand Island; 14 grandchildren, Annaliese (Jared) Leiser, Allison (Alex) Bendt, Ashlee Meyer, Grant (Ashley) Meyer, Nathan (Shannon) Bombeck, Brandon Bombeck, Derek (Jennifer) Bombeck, Arielle (Trevor) Tripe, Trevor (Lisa) Spellman, Megan (Tyler) Herter, John (Lauren) Meyer, Haeley (Trent) Petersen, and Alex and Mattie Hansen; 22 great-grandchildren, Scarlett, Ruby and Scout Leiser, Sloane and Witt Bendt, Palmer Meyer, Lillian, Jace, Layla, Collin and Graham Bombeck, Brady, Mason and Trey Tripe, Avery and Finn Spellman, Hadley and Hank Herter, Arthur Meyer, and Lennon, Mila, and Lainey Petersen; sisters and brother, Audrey Larson, Kolleen Grams, Veralu Fritson, Sherry Ander-