Martin Joseph Meyer
February 8, 1943 - November 1, 2000 (All Saints Day)

Eulogy spoken at Martin Meyer's Funeral by his Daughter, Maria

     My father was known as a husband, a son, father, grandfather, brother,
brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, nephew, neighbor, and a great friend to many
of you.  I simply knew him as being my dad.  I want to take a few moments
to give you some of the better memories of my dad.

     My dad loved to go on vacation.  Of those many trips that we took we can
always look back and laugh at something that happened.  The best memory
that I have of him on vacation was the time that we took a trip up the east
coast.  Have you ever seen the movie National Lampoons Vacation?  That was
us in the family truckster.  We had the back of the station wagon filled.
We stopped all over from a fish hatchery to the Naval Academy.  The
funniest thing on the trip was when we got stuck on the concrete island in
the middle of the road in New York.  The whole car was emptied and all the
kids sat back in the police cruiser.

     The next story is about Hollie my dog.  As many of you are aware my dad was
never fond of having a dog.  I think I've been wanting a dog for 21 of my
23 years.  I asked all the time.  I will never forget when I got him to
agree to let me have a dog.  I used reverse  psychology.  I asked for a
horse.  I said all ever wanted was a dog.  He said I'm not saying you can
but I'm not saying you can't.  Well the next Friday mom and I went and
picked up Hollie.  Hollie didn't like my dad for two months.  He tried
everything to get her to come to him and nothing worked.  Mom and I went on
Vacation and when we returned Hollie was hooked to my dad.  Since that day
she went everywhere he went.  She watched him cut the grass, loved to play
ball and she especially loved to go for W-A-L-K-S with him.  So it was very
fitting that she was there with him during his last breathes because she
loved him so very much.

     The last memory I will share is the last one that I want to remember.  It
has to do with my dad's love of sports.  Steve called and said he carved
his pumpkin as an Avalanche (that's the hockey team in Denver).  I took
that as a challenge.  So dad and I conjured up to carve a blue note for
our St. Louis Blues.  My dad was so excited he said that is so cool.  He
helped me carve it.  He also helped me with my Rest In Peace signs for
several opposing hockey players.  He got the idea to put Blue food coloring
inside the pumpkin to make it even better.

     Hey dad I wanted to tell you that Will Clark retired and did you know that
the Blues have won the last seven games.

     Dad I love you and I know that even though you won't be there for me at my
graduation from college.  I will know you are there watching over me.  I
hope that I will make you proud.

Eulogy spoken at Martin Meyer's Funeral by his Only Son, Stephen

     I have a million things I could say, and it would take as long as people waited in line yesterday.  What an amazing feeling it was for our family to see so much support.  One thought of how supportive our father was.  Julie came home blessed with pregnancy early in her life, dreading what the parents reaction could be.  Our dad accepted her with open arms and said we will do whatever it takes to make this the best it can possibly be.  Megan changed our lives.  The acceptance by our father changed our outlook on life. 

      Our father could think so fondly of what retirement would hold for him.  He had a wonderful time with my mom, in the time that he had.  I honestly have never seen him happier than the last few years.  Getting to spend the best week of my life with my parents as they visited Carolyn and I in late September.  It was so incredible to have Carolyn love my parents so much that she was sad that they left after a week.  That is not the typical reaction for ones in-laws but then again my parents are the exception as they are the two greatest parents every child wishes for.  I have made it a goal of mine to beat my dad by retiring before him at age 54 1/2. 

     I remember him coming to my soccer games when I was a child and he was so proud of me that he would cry when I scored a goal.  Even though I didn’t score that often he was always there.  I could hear him cheering for me from the sidelines just as he is for me right now. 

      I would like to ask all of you to do something for my dad as I feel this would be a wish of his.  For everyone here to go out and do something nice for someone that you know, care about or love, every day, as he did for so many of us.  He gave so much of his heart to all of us, it’s ironic, that his heart could give no more.  

Prayers of the Faithful Presented at Marty's Funeral Mass

For all of us assembled here, that we may be gathered together again in God’s Kingdom, we pray to the Lord. 

For the Church, that it may be blessed with vocations so that it can continue its works of mercy throughout the world, we pray to the Lord.

For all our deceased friends and relatives, especially our mother Rose Meyer, we pray to the Lord.

For the extended family and friends of our brother Marty, that they may be consoled in their grief, we pray to the Lord.

For those who have fallen away from the Church, may they find reconciliation and peace in their faith, we pray to the Lord.

God the almighty father raised Christ his Son from the dead; with confidence, we ask him to save all his people, living and dead: for Marty who in baptism was given the pledge of eternal life, that he now be admitted to the company of the saints, we pray to the Lord.

For your own special intentions...., we pray to the Lord 

First Reading: A reading from the Book of Wisdom 4:7-15

The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.  For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time, nor can it be measured in terms of years.  Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men, and an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.  He who pleased God was loved; he who lived among sinners was transported - snatched way, lest wickedness pervert his mind or deceit beguile his soul; for the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right and the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.  Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness of a long career; for his soul was pleasing the Lord, therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness.  But the people saw and did not understand, nor did they take this into account.  Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

Second Reading: Thessalonians 4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one another with these words.  

If you would like to submit any pictures, information or your experiences/stories with/about Marty, just email webjc@yahoo.com , and I will post it free of charge.