Harold (Harry) Meyer, age 89, of Tomah passed away peacefully in the only home he had ever known on May 16, 2025. He now has a new residence, at home in heaven in a room prepared for him by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Harry was born on December 2, 1935, to Arthur and Mathilda (Glander) Meyer, the youngest of three children. He grew up on a dairy farm on the ridge, South of Tomah and attended Eckelberg grade school. He graduated from Tomah High School in 1953, ranking seventh in his class academically.
Harry’s early years were spent in rural Tomah, where he helped his father and mother work on a 137-acre dairy farm on the ridge South of Tomah. Harry’s older siblings, Ethel and Howard, were significantly older and had moved away from the farm to live lives of their own. Harry and his parents made a great team. Mathilda took care of the housework and the garden. Harry and Arthur plowed the ground, planted the seeds, cultivated the plants, harvested the crops, fenced the pastures and milked the cows. Their collective efforts made them very successful, well respected dairy farmers.
Harry’s life was blessed with a wonderful friendship in the person of Duane (Duke) Marten. Duke grew up on a nearby farm and the two cultivated a friendship that lasted their entire lives. Harry and Duke enjoyed horseback rides, hunting and fishing together. Their friendship lives on today as Harry and Duke’s children continue to enjoy each other’s company and treat each other like family. They have a special bond that is strong and enduring.
Harry’s life changed forever on the evening of February 9, 1957, when he went to a wedding dance in Wilton. There, he had a conversation with the woman that would be the love of his life, Joanne Cox. Harry had a thing for brunettes and Joanne was a stunningly beautiful dark-haired farm girl. At the end of the conversation, Harry began to walk away, intrigued but not wanting to pursue too quickly – because in his own words: “I thought she was out of my league”. At this point the normally reserved Joanne worked up the nerve to say, “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime.” The bold statement was the spark that started a deep and abiding romance. After dating for a year, they realized they had something special, so Harry proposed on April 30, 1958. Plans for the wedding began. Mindful that they were part of a farming community they had a unique and very special service in mind. A 7:30 evening ceremony believed to be the first of its kind was planned. The couple was married on September 20, 1958, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Ridgeville by Pastor Robert Beckman. God blessed this marriage with five children, Bryan, Bradley, Brent, Blaine and Janeen. Harry and Joanne made a point of teaching their children the truths of God’s Word and made sure all five children attended worship, Sunday School and catechism class at the very same church they were married in.
Harry’s life changed again when his parents passed away. To settle the estate, most of the farmland was sold in 1970 and Harry and Joanne kept the two-story farmhouse at the intersection of Highway 131 and County Trunk “A”. Harry went to work as a grade foreman for Hammersley Construction, a road building firm from Madison that had built Highway 131 South of Tomah and through the family farm. This construction work took him away from home to various projects throughout Wisconsin. Harry worked hard to provide for his family, but the travels and time away from home and family did not sit well with Harry, a father with growing children.
Harry and Joanne had a strong desire to own a business that they could share. After considering some options including a restaurant and a Christmas tree farm they purchased a tavern in Tomah known as “Ken’s Bar”. They took over operations on July 29, 1974, renaming it “The Corner Inn.” This was a huge step for the couple because outside of working on their respective family farms, neither had owned or run a business. Together Harry and Joanne built a thriving tavern business, providing customers with a comfortable place to relax and take a break from the worries of life. Harry excelled at bar life and enjoyed deep conversations on the topics of the day. But where Harry absolutely thrived was on the abundance of BS he shared with his customers. He enjoyed being center stage and selling pull tabs and running meat raffles. On the more serious side, knowing that many bar customers had no one to share holidays with, Harry and Joanne made a point of preparing and serving a meal free of charge on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day at the bar. Harry and Joanne made a great team and after 30 very successful years, the bar was sold, and they spent the next several years enjoying a comfortable retirement.
The next chapter of Harry’s life took him into the car business where he became a driver for Norris-Vernier and then Brenengen. He shared this work with several great friends who worked together to pick up and deliver cars and trucks to other dealerships in the upper Midwest. Harry could always be counted on to get the job done efficiently. When he wasn’t driving cars he enjoyed trips to the Casino with Joanne until she passed and in his later years with good friend Jim Cram.
Harry was a big fan of the Green Bay Packers (especially the Lombardi years), Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Bucks. He was also a huge NASCAR fan and loved it when Fords (especially the ones driven by Bill Elliott) won the races. Harry visited several NASCAR tracks with his sons over the years. Harry will be remembered as a witty soul with a mischievous grin and a heart for others. He is deeply missed by family and friends alike.
Harry’s family rejoices today that he has indeed entered the realms of heaven to spend eternity with Jesus and to be reunited with his wife Joanne. How ironic that Joanne’s words “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” have now come to fruition. They now are together in eternity!
Harry is survived by his children, Bryan (Brenda) Meyer of Tomah; Brad (Jenny) Meyer of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Brent Meyer of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Blaine (Anna) Meyer of Tomah; Janeen (Ken) Folgers of Cataract, Wisconsin. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Matthew Meyer (Annie & Jack), Daniel Meyer (Megan), Pastor Andrew Meyer (Hollie) and Sarah (Ryan) Reed; Jessica Meyer; Ashley and Amber Meyer; Brett and Scott Meyer; and Wyatt Folgers. He is also survived by one great grandson Noah (Andrew and Hollie). He is further survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.
Harry was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Joanne, his parents Arthur and Mathilda, his siblings Ethel and Howard and his infant grandson Alex Folgers.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 11:00 a.m. at the St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ridgeville. Pastor Robert Gerke will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Tomah. Family and friends are invited for visitation Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Torkelson Funeral Home in Tomah. Visitation will also be held from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The Torkelson Funeral Home of Tomah is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences are available at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
Torkelson Funeral Home
