Joe Meyer, 74, of Williamsburg, Ind., passed away peacefully on Monday morning, March 11 in his home near Fountain City. He was born Jerry Joe Meyer on October 7, 1938 in Richmond to Irvin S. and Helen S. Snarr Meyer. He graduated from Fountain City High School in 1956 and married the former Roma J. Mikesell on Jan. 19, 1957.

Meyer farmed briefly in Bloomington, Ill., before moving back to Wayne County. He began working at Hayes Arboretum before switching to a position at Hayes Track and Appliance Co. in 1959 His career there took him from the drafting room to being the vice president of operations and part owner of the company. He invented four patented products related to railway track efficiency. Meyer was a past associate member of the Railway Engineering Assoc., and a lifetime member of the National Railway Contractors Assoc. 

Meyer farmed throughout his life and was an active member of many boards. He served nine years on the Wayne County Soil and Water Board, three terms on the New Garden Township Advisory Board, eight years on the Wayne County EDC, 13 years on the Eastern Indiana Development Board and 10 years on the Indiana Soybean Alliance. He was in his ninth year of service on the United Soybean Board and was currently involved with Chamber of Commerce Agriculture and Life Science Committees. He was currently serving on the Region 9 Ivy Tech Board of Trustees and Ivy Tech State Foundation Board.

Meyer’s work in the railway and agriculture industries took him to 28 countries. His first trip to China was in 1981 relating to railroads. His most recent trip to South China was to observe the harvesting of fish that were fed soybean protein. Meyer also noticed how many of the bicycles and animal carts of the 1980’s had been replaced by Mercedes and Audis. 

Meyer received the 2012 Agriculture Stewardship Award from the Wayne County Farm Bureau and was inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Meyer’s main interest was his family. He enjoyed spending time with Roma and working in many ventures with his sons as well as having his daughter nearby. 

Meyer’s other interests included reading, machine tools, welding, woodworking, metal working, working on old tractors and following the livestock industry. 

Meyer will be missed by his wife of  56 years, Roma; daughter, Becky Owens, of Richmond; sons & daughters-in-law, Robert K. & Shelley Meyer, of Richmond; Steve Joe & Judy Meyer, of Fountain City; four grandchildren, Jon Meyer, Karman Meyer, Greg Meyer and Mike Meyer; one great-grandson, Wyatt Meyer; his special friend, Bennett Westjohn; and his faithful canine companion, Ellie B.. 

Meyer was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Michael Joe Meyer and one sister, Faye Waltz.