Fred passed away at Stormont Vail Hospital in Junction City, Kansas on January 24, 2024. He and his wife will be laid to rest at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery with full military honors at a later date.
Wilfried (Fred) Gustav Meyer was born to Dorothea and Ludwig Meyer on October 23, 1935, in Bremen, Germany. Born and raised in the Lüneburger Heide, Germany during war time was not easy. He was known to run off and find food from the American soldiers. That’s when he knew he wanted to join the military. Later in life, he immigrated to the United States to work on a chicken farm for his aunt and uncle who lived in Pennsylvania. This is where he established his residency and eventually ended up being drafted into the American military. After he was drafted, he was sent to Heidelberg, Germany to work as an U.S. Army interpreter, as well as work on the rail road, and in the transportation office. Fred was a key person in maintaining relationships between the German and American Armies.
While stationed in Heidelberg, Germany, he met the love of his life Antje and they were married on December 18, 1962. They had two children, Claudia Meyer Boyles and Wilfried (Fred Jr.) K. Meyer.
Fred was a man of many talents. He worked many years as an electrician and in air conditioning and refrigeration. Fred was also known as the music man and had many talents when it came to music. Whenever you visited him he made sure to entertain you with some sort of song that you liked. He spent a lot of hours in nursing homes entertaining people. Fred served 30+ years in the army which included Desert Storm when he was reenlisted. He spent many hours at the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) serving in many roles. He and his wife Antje also started the German club in Junction City when they moved here in 1978.
Fred is survived by his daughter Claudia (Marty) of Garden City, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Krystal (Allan) LaBonta, Alan (Emily) Boyles, Benjamin (Victoria) Boyles, Heidi (Andrew) Moore, Brent Meyer, Michael Meyer, Harley (Syndi) Meyer, and Jennifer (Cole) Lucas; fourteen great-grandchildren and a host of other loving family and friends. He is proceeded by his loving wife Antje; his son, Fred Jr, and one grandchild, Andrea.