Paul V. Meyer

Longtime Mankato businessman, Paul V. Meyer, age 97, died Sunday, January 10, 2016 at Keystone Senior Living.

Funeral service 11:00 a.m. Friday at Hosanna Lutheran Church. Burial with military honors in Glenwood Cemetery. Visitation from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at Hosanna Lutheran Church and will continue one hour before the service on Friday. Memorials are preferred to Hosanna Lutheran Church, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, American Cancer Society, MN Military Museum, Habitat for Humanity, or an organization of the donor’s choice.

Mankato Mortuary is handling arrangements.

Paul was born May 18, 1918 in St. James to Fred and Bertha (Uhlhorn) Meyer. They moved to Mankato, where he graduated from Mankato High School, attended Mankato Business College, and graduated from MN State University.

Paul enlisted in the MN National Guard in 1935 and was stationed in Fort Greely, Alaska, Fort Bliss, Fort Snelling, and Fort McCoy during World War II and at Fort Rucker during the Korean War. He retired from the military in 1973 as a Major General and as Commander of the 47th Infantry Division, ending 39 years of service to his country.

Paul was united in marriage to Wilda Gifford on June 30, 1940. They had four children and made their home in Mankato. Paul partnered into the family business, Meyer & Sons and retired in 1980 after 45 years of business. Wilda died in 1997 from the effects of Crohn’s disease.

On February 19, 2000, Paul married his friend, Doris Beyer. They enjoyed attending the Mankato Symphony and stayed active in the community.

Paul was recognized for his community service by receiving the “Service to Mankind Award” from Key City Sertoma Club in 1991, “Book of Golden Deeds from Mankato Exchange Club in 2005. He served on the Immanuel Hospital Board, Hosanna Lutheran Church board, volunteered with United Way, Mankato Board of Review, Habitat for Humanity and Meals on Wheels.

Paul is survived by his wife, Doris; his three children, Marna (Dennis) Billings of Ankeny, IA, Mike (Pat) of Maple Lake, Steven (Diana) of Mason City, IA; 15 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; brother, Calvin J. (Dorothy) Meyer of Gainesville, FL; nieces; nephews; and Doris’s sons, David (Jackie) Beyer of Eagan, Tom (Jade) Beyer of Apple Valley, John (Jayne) Beyer of Owatonna, and their families.

Paul was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilda; grandson, Brandon Meyer; son, Richard; daughter-in-law, Vicki Meyer; and eleven brothers and sisters.