James "Jim" Meyer

GARNER - James "Jim" W. Meyer, 81, of Palm Bay, FL, former longtime chief of the Garner Fire Department, died Thursday (June 16, 2011) in Palm Bay, FL.

Funeral services will be held 10 A.M., Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Garner with Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Monday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

James "Jim" Meyer, the son of Martin "Max" and Alvina (Streucker) Meyer, was born January 12, 1930 at Whittemore. At the age of two, he moved with his family to Garner where he graduated from high school in 1947. Jim worked for the Garner Leader for forty-two years and wrote the column "Outdoors With Jim Meyer" for many of those years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Jim was an active member of the Garner Fire Department for thirty-six years having served seven years as assistant chief and fifteen years as chief. The fire department was his life. Jim was a devoted member of St Paul Lutheran Church in Garner and also sang in the church choir.

Jim is survived by his wife, Julie, of Palm Bay, FL; two children, James W. II (Priscilla) Meyer of Belmond and Julie (Jeffrey) Trost of Nashua; six grandchildren, Katie (Joe) Tautges, Christopher Meyer, Jordan Meyer, Jason Trost, Jill Trost and Jon (Krista) Trost ; two brothers, Rev. Edward (Melba) Meyer of Conover, NC and Rev. David (Vivian) Meyer of Winter Haven, FL; a sister, Marie (David) Waddingham of Garner; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth (Puckhaber) Meyer; son, John; and his parents.

Jim will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.