Arlene Esta Meyer

     Arlene Esta Meyer, the daughter of John C. Schmidt and Lena L. Frick, was born December 2, 1937 on a farm one mile east of Moneta, Iowa. She attended Moneta Consolidated School and graduated in 1955. Arlene attended Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls where she received her two-year teaching degree. Her first teaching job was in Terril, Iowa.

    She married Verland “Bud” Meyer of Everly on August 3, 1958, and they eventually moved to the Meyer family farm. Arlene taught school in Everly. Once they began their family, Arlene stayed home to raise their children, Lori and Todd, and to help Bud in the fields. Working on the farm was one of her favorite occupations. During the farm crisis in the 1980s, Arlene went back to work as an aide at the Everly school, where she was known as Mrs. M. Over the years, she also worked as a substitute teacher at Everly and then Clay Central-Everly schools.

    Arlene faithfully attended the same church all her life. She was a baptized and confirmed member of Hope Lutheran Church where she was active in the women’s organization, serving in many ways including as President for two terms. She also served as an officer on the ELCA Women’s Cluster board for seven years. She was a member of Martha Circle and the quilting group. Arlene also served on Altar Committee for many years. Arlene enjoyed friendship with a great circle of wonderful women, many of them from church. Together, they loved Sunday lunches and drives after church – many with Bud, and then continuing after Bud passed. 

    Arlene and Bud loved their Everly community. For many years, Arlene wrote for the “Everly-Royal News,” covering community and school events through a weekly column. She regularly baked her famed tea rings for Everly’s Farmers Market and especially loved the Clay County Fair. Arlene was a 4-H leader and member of the Clay County 4-H Committee as well as a member of Waterford Farm Bureau Women. She was also an avid reader.

    Arlene’s favorite thing in life was her family and spending time with them. Babysitting, playing and camping with the grandchildren created special memories for her and Bud. And being able to spend time with the great-grandchildren was an added blessing. She was the heart of their home and of their family. She would do anything she could to help someone in need, and she provided a caring and loving home for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Friends and family never left the house without a hug and a kiss goodbye.

    Arlene passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Community Memorial Assisted Living in Hartley at the age of 87. She was preceded in death by husband, Bud; her parents; one brother, Arvin Schmidt; and granddaughter, Molly Brown.

   Left to cherish her memory are daughter, Lori (Mark) Brown of Sheldon; son, Todd (Tracy) Meyer of Everly; grandchildren: Iesha (Josh) Toft, Colton (Laura) Meyer, Jane (Luke) Pomranky, Kinsey Meyer, Joelle (Jeffrey Ding) Brown, and Thomas (Hailey) Brown; great-grandchildren: Livon, Liam, Dorothy, Vera Toft and Miles, Violet, and Jonathan Pomranky.