L. Janice "Jan" Meyer

Laurel Janice “Jan” Meyer, 88, of Oshkosh passed peacefully from this life on earth into her eternal home in Heaven with her family at her side on August 31, 2020.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 4, 2020 at the Oshkosh Community Wesleyan Church with Pastors Bruce Neal, Ace Backer, and Kerry Johnson officiating.  Burial will follow in the St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home in Oshkosh.

We sincerely encourage each person to make your decision whether to attend based on the best interest of your health and that of your community.  Face coverings or masks are requested.

Memorials will go to the Oshkosh Wesleyan Church, Oshkosh, NE.

Family and friends can leave condolences at www.bondegardfunerals.com.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Meyer family.

Laurel J. ‘Jan’ Engleman Meyer was born 4 miles south of Penokee, Graham County, Kansas on April 7, 1932 to Herman Edgar and Marie Freeman Engleman.  The family stayed on the farm until they could no longer make a living due to the drought, dust storms, and recession.  Jan was 10 when they moved to Hill City, Kansas.  She attended a rural school a mile from home, her first year.  Then the next four years she went with her mother, who was teaching in a rural school about 15 miles from home.  She had one sister Vivan Joan, born in February 1937.

Jan attended and graduated from Hill City High school in 1949.  It was there that she met the love of her life, Andrew J. Meyer.  They were married on September 23, 1950.  They were blessed with three children: Jack Edward, Janet Marie, and Susan Joy.

Jan’s first job was in a café.  She then worked in an ice cream shop.  At age 13, she worked for her mother in the newspaper shop in Hill City.  She wrote feature stories and a column titled “Nosey Jan”.  She also learned the bookkeeping and routine of working in the newspaper shop.  Out of high school she began editing and publishing a newspaper in the small town of Morland, Kansas.  She earned many awards in writing, advertising design, special additions, etc.  Later the Morland newspaper was incorporated into the Hill City Times.

Later in life, she and Andy organized, wrote, and published a book about her mother’s life, titled “The Flying Editor”.  This book turned out to be a popular book because it told the story of the family and some of the growth of Hill City, Kansas.

In their early years of marriage, Jan and Andy lived on a farm east of Hill City.  She loved learning to live the rural life; milking cows, raising chickens, raising a garden.  They had no mail service, no telephone, and no television, so she spent her extra time learning to sew.  She enjoyed sewing clothing for her children and grandchildren.  She taught many kids to sew in 4-H and, in later years, she learned to quilt.

The family moved to Denver, CO in 1959 to manage an apartment house.  At that time, Andy worked in the printing business in Denver.  In 1961, they bought the Farmer & Miner newspaper in Frederick, CO.  Jan was the editor and writer while Andy worked in the shop.  The newspaper was sold in 1966 when the family moved to Julesburg, CO to open an International Harvester shop and sales.  After two years that business had to be closed and, in 1973, Andy & Jan moved to Oshkosh, NE-buying Farm & Ranch Fertilizer.  She and Andy enjoyed 25 seasons serving the farmers in this area.  After retiring in November of 1998, they enjoyed 12 years of traveling in their motor home, spending quality time with children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Music was a big part of her life.  She sang in groups, sang solos, and, in high school, played the alto saxophone.  Later in life, Jan learned to play Cow Bells and Choral Crystal Glasses.  She enjoyed playing these throughout the community and at various women’s retreats.  Other hobbies included quilting, gardening, photography, genealogy, reading, crocheting, and cross stitching.  Yes, Jan was a very busy lady.

Throughout her life, Jan served on church boards, Volunteers of American board, and belonged to other homemaking organizations.

Her family was very special to her.  She tried to be a part of each of their lives, encouraging them and cheering them on in their endeavors. 

Survivors include:  Daughters, Janet (Kerry) Johnson of Oshkosh, NE, and Susan (Ace) Backer of Mitchel, NE; Nine grandchildren; Twenty-six great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren; sister Vivan Scott of Tucson, AZ; sister-in-law Doralea Jenkins of Scottsdale, AZ; many nieces and nephews and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband Andy Meyer; and son, Jack E. Meyer.