Nature 14

Erich E. Meyer

September 11, 2023 (age 96) 96 Years Old

Obituary

Erich E.  Meyer, beloved husband of the late Ursula Meyer.  Devoted father of Gisela A. (Karl) Holstein and Goody P. (the late Toby M.) Kenney, both of Cincinnati.  Loving grandfather of David (Lisa) Holstein, Diane (Steve) Reimert, Bryon (Tiffany) Helfer, Matthew (Michaela) Helfer, Adam Kenney and his 9 great-grandchildren. Dear brother of Klärchen Trienen of Germany.  Also preceded in death by three brothers, four sisters and his parents, Theodor and Auguste Meyer. Also survived by Renata Kenney and other extended family members.

Erich passed away at Western Hills Retirement Village on Monday, September 11, 2023, three months after losing his beloved wife of 77 years; he was 96 years old.

He was born the youngest of 9 to a family of farmers in northern Germany. From the age of two, he spent several years in the hospital trying to correct his foot deformity. The surgeries were unsuccessful, but that didn’t stop him from leading a normal childhood, playing soccer and riding his bike. He did, however, have more education than most of his peers.

He met his future wife, Ursula, at the ripe age of 13, when she was sent to work on a nearby farm because the men were off fighting the war. They married in 1946 and welcomed their first daughter, Gisela. In 1958, Erich made the decision to move his family, which had grown with another daughter, Goody, to Cincinnati, Ohio.  Erich’s older brother had immigrated to the states in the late 20’s and convinced Erich to move to the USA, the land of opportunity after the decimation of Germany.

Erich started working as a welder in an ornamental iron work company and soon became foreman even though he barely spoke English.  He and Ursula took two transfer buses at night to master the English language. 

In 1961 they bought their first house in Delhi.  Despite the handicap of his feet, he built a house with a partner and sold it to a German family.  He always said “with a will, there’s a way”.  He would think through a problem and either work around it or find a solution. In 1966, Erich bought a custom steel fabrication company and ran it successfully until he retired at the age of 62.

In his retirement years, Erich enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He and Ursula traveled the world, loved playing cards and partied til wee hours of the morning. He was a member of the Kolping Society of Cincinnati for 60+years and a member of their shooting club for 35 years.  He became King of Kolping in 1989 and a Kentucky Colonel shortly thereafter.

Mass of Christian Burial, Monday, September 18, 11:00AM at St. William Church, 4108 West 8th Street, Price Hill. Visitation in church one hour prior to the Mass with Kolping Society prayers at 10:45AM.  Interment St. Joseph New Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice of Cincinnati, P.O. Box 633597, Cincinnati, OH 45263-3597 or the Cincinnati Kolping Society, 10235 Mill Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45231.
Ralph Meyer & Deters Funeral Home serving the family.

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Services

Visitation
Monday
September 18, 2023

10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
St. William Church
4108 W. 8th St.
Cincinnati, OH 45205

Kolping Society Prayers
Monday
September 18, 2023

10:45 AM
St. William Church
4108 W. 8th St.
Cincinnati, OH 45205

Mass of Christian Burial
Monday
September 18, 2023

11:00 AM
St. William Church
4108 W. 8th St.
Cincinnati, OH 45205

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