Carl Edwin Meyer, died on November 11, 2025 at The Comfort Home Hospice in Reed City, Michigan at age 76. Carl was born to Margaret (Chapman) Meyer and Henry G. Meyer) on November 29, 1948 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

He had great love for his parents, brother Fred (Olive) and sister Janet (Allen), his wife of 50 years, Diane, their son, Dustin, and their grandchildren, Grayson, Elliot and Sully, as well as many nieces and nephews, Carl grew up in a happy family, having many adventures, traveling and camping throughout the west in National Parks. He had his own lawn mowing business by age nine, and enjoyed wrestling, lifeguarding, and singing in the school chorus, had a paper route and was an eagle scout. While earning a degree in forestry Carl worked for the U.S. Forest Service during summers doing timber surveying and one summer smoke jumping. Afterward he served in the Air Force for four years during Vietnam.

He was certainly active, living life fully with enthusiasm. Most of all Carl valued people and saw inherent worth in each person he met, no matter who they were or what walk of life. He was known for being ready to jump into any situation to help someone, whether friend or stranger, with no thought to inconvenience or potential danger. He brought smiles and laughter to so many by making music (harmonica, piano, flute, guitar,) by spontaneously singing in the street or with the Northland Barbershop in Sault Canada (10 years) and the Great Lakes Barbershop chorus in Grand Rapids, Michigan (10 years). His special joy was dancing with Diane every chance they got, at home or in public.

Together Carl and Diane dreamed of protecting the wild land they owned from being developed. They achieved that goal in 2005, when 220 acres became the Hobbins-Meyer Nature Preserve through the Little Traverse Conservancy. They loved hiking and camping in the southwest and volunteering in National Parks, where Carl took up making native flutes from wood using only hand tools.

In 2022 Carl was diagnosed with Lewy body Dementia, described by the Medical Community as the most difficult and complicated form of dementia. It is less well known or understood, although as common as vascular dementia. Carl managed to maintain his essential loving self despite increasing difficulties. His heart and spirit remained intact. Four days before he died, though he was unable to speak, he made music by playing improvised tunes on his harmonica as he did each day.

The help and care of our son, Dustin, eased the path, our grandkids raised our spirits and the support of family and friends was appreciatively received.

A celebration of Carl’s life will be held on August 16th. At 2:00 p.m. during the first part of the gathering, all will be invited to share stories, remembrances, photos, poems, readings, music or song, as well as view some of Carl’s paintings and creations, as we honor the remarkable person he was. Following this will be a potluck.

Whether you may want to attend the initial gathering only or the potluck also, please send an email for more information to Diane at: dmeyer2015@gmail.com

You will receive a reply with more details and asking you to RSVP