Hans Meyer

Hans August Ludwig Meyer, of Madrid, 89, left this earth peacefully on Sept. 12, 2018, after a brief illness. He was born on Nov. 18, 1928 in Lemgo, Germany, to Johannes Jacob Christian and Auguste Helene (Hollensteiner) Meyer. He spent the first 22 years of his life in Germany, becoming a master furniture carpenter before venturing to America in 1951 in pursuit of the American dream. 

A farm north of Madrid, Nebraska where relatives had homesteaded is where Hans found his true passion—farming. 

On June 24, 1956, he married Gwendolyn Lea (Irish) Meyer in Ogallala, Neb. They raised one daughter and four sons, Lisa, Jeff, Marty, Dan and Randy. 

“Oh, my gosh, nie!” was a phrase his sons frequently heard. Farming and ranching were Hans’ life’s work. Only two trips back to Germany took him away from the farm for more than a day or two. Hans absolutely loved ranching and working with cattle. He’d shake his head and say, “Cows know best what they want to do!” as a stubborn animal would not cooperate. A wheat field, and later an irrigated corn field, was the place you’d find this hard-working man in a ball cap and plaid shirt sowing and harvesting crops as he exemplified an extremely strong work ethic. 

For years, during the winter months, Hans worked as a finish carpenter and built everything from scratch as he designed and built many kitchens in the area. He was a great provider for his wife and children. A birthday wish from Hans was something every member of the family knew was coming as he never forgot a birthday. 

Hans August Meyer was preceded in death by his wife Gwendolyn, his father and mother, Johannes and Auguste Meyer, his brother and sister-in-law, Werner (Irene) Meyer, and his brother- and sister-in-laws Darryl (Joyce) Irish. 

He is survived by his daughter, Annalisa Meyer of Grand Island, Neb.; sons Jeffrey (Renee) Meyer of Ogallala, Martin (Deborah) Meyer of Ogallala, Danny (Jennifer) Meyer of Arnold, Neb., and Randall (Tonya) Meyer of Madrid; two nieces Anke Kerner and Birgit Lehmann and families of Germany; nephews Tom Irish and Mark Irish and families; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. 

Any memorial donations may be made to the Madrid United Methodist Church. Hans’s cremains will be spread at a private family service at a later date.