Carol Meyer

***The slideshow and service recording is posted below.***

Carol Meyer, 79, formerly of Atlantic, Iowa, died Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at Northridge Village in Ames, Iowa. She will always be remembered for her nurturing, patience, and kindness. 

Carol Naomi was born on January 30, 1945, in Atlantic, Iowa, the daughter of Charles Leonard Jr. and Eula Garnet (Chester) Mills. She attended the Crossroads Union #7 one room school house through the 6th grade and graduated from C & M High School in the Class of 1963. Following graduation, she attended Drake University and worked as a bookkeeper and office manager for Valley Motors and Walton Products. 

On September 14, 1969, she was united in marriage to Dean Eldon Meyer in Cumberland, Iowa. In 1973, they were blessed with their only child, daughter Cheri. Choosing to stay home to care for her daughter turned into a 39-year adventure of in-home daycare after happily accepting the challenge, “Well if you are staying home with Cheri will you watch…?” Carol’s daycare kids and parents were her second family and she has stayed in touch with them; many of them looked up to her as a second mom or grandma. It has been shared through the years and in the days following her death how they will be forever grateful for her caring heart and the love she showed them. 

Playing the piano was something Carol loved doing and practiced for countless hours at home. In junior high she started playing for Sunday School classes, and in high school through 2016, for church services. Carol was a member of the Massena United Methodist Church and was active in helping with Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She enjoyed bowling on a league for decades, and she also enjoyed many crafts which included crocheting, sewing, cross-stitch and embroidery. Carol made most of Cheri’s early childhood clothing and much of her own, in addition to some pretty memorable Halloween costumes. 

Carol lived a life of service to her own family, church family, daycare family and above all, God. She dedicated Sundays after church to caring for and visiting with her parents, in-laws, and her aunt. 

Carol will be deeply missed by those that survive her, including her daughter, Cheri (Jeff) Thieleke of Ames; three grandsons, Christopher, Michael, and William Thieleke, all of Ames; brother, Bruce (Mary) Mills of Kansas; sister-in-law, Diane Darling of Ames; brother-in-law, Gary (Judi) Meyer of Ames; special niece, Cindy Garrett of Alabama; many cherished daycare families; and extended family including nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

She is preceded in death by her parents, Charles Jr. and Eula Mills; parents-in-law, Elmer “Bud” and Darlene Meyer; husband, Dean Meyer; brother, Kenneth Mills; special aunt, Edrie Neary; and special cousin, Shirley Chester.

Open visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 21st at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. 

Visitation with the family present will begin at 9:00 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 2024 at the Massena United Methodist Church followed by the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Massena Center Cemetery, north of Massena.

The service will be recorded and available at www.rolandfuneralservice.com by end of day Saturday.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to the Massena United Methodist Church or the Massena United Methodist Church Women.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Carol’s family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.