Charles Meyer
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — Charles Phillip Meyer of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Dixon, Montana, died peacefully at his home in Las Vegas on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. Born in Cherokee, Iowa, on Oct. 7, 1942, he was the second son of Fred H. and Zelda M. (Cantine) Meyer. He grew up in Quimby, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1961. He attended Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, for one year. He subsequently joined the United States Air Force in 1962. Stationed in England, he was selected as outstanding Airman of the Quarter for the European Division of the Air Force.
In 1966 Chuck was honorably discharged from the Air Force and returned to LeMars, Iowa, to finish his Bachelor’s degree with majors in history and sociology. Upon graduation he was lured to Montana with stories of hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors. He began teaching elementary school in West Yellowstone. During summers, he attended Western Montana College, now the University of Montana-Dillon, to earn his permanent teaching license. In 1972, he began teaching in Charlo. There he met his soul mate and best friend, Agnes Herak. They were married on May 31, 1974.
In 1975 he joined the United States Army and worked as tanker, reenlistment NCO, and recruiter. During his time in the Army the family was stationed in Erlangen, Germany; Spokane, Washington; Kaiserslautern, Germany; and Fort Lewis, Washington. While stationed in Germany the first time, Chuck completed his Master’s of Education degree with an emphasis in counseling from the University of Southern California. In 1979, his daughter Nichole was born at Fairchild AFB in Washington. Her sister Julianna was born in 1982, also at Fairchild AFB.
Chuck retired from the US Army as a Master Sergeant in 1991.He reentered the teaching field and taught at Lone Rock School in Stevensville, and in Ennis. He retired from teaching in 1996, after which, he returned to Charlo and managed the Charlo Café. In 1999 he and his wife moved to Las Vegas, where his in-laws had wintered for many years, to spend time with his mother-in-law, Viola Herak. While in Las Vegas, Chuck worked for the First National Bank of Marin.
He retired completely in 2001. He maintained residency in Montana, where he lived summer through fall to fish, hunt, and drive for hours on backwoods roads. In the winter and spring he lived in Las Vegas with his wife, who spent summers in Montana with him.
Chuck died of kidney cancer. All who loved him will miss his dry humor, love of life, and sense of adventure.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Agnes Herak Meyer; his daughters, Nichole Herakmeyer Wood (Matt) of Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, and Julianna Herakmeyer Elverud (Justin) of Dixon; eight grandchildren: Evan and Addie Wood and Colin, Charlie, Dylann, Trip, Cash, and Ryann Elverud; and two brothers, Bob Meyer (Carolyn) of Naples, Florida, and Jim Meyer of Quimby, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Zelda Meyer.
Rosary will be Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Charlo. Lunch will follow at the Dixon Senior Citizens’ Center.
