Irvin E. Meier, Jr., 71, of Wapello, passed away on Monday, December 12, 2022 at his home in Wapello. Friends may call after noon on Monday, December 19, 2022 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Wapello, the family will be present from 4:30 until 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. Celebration of Life for Irv will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at the Wapello High School Gymnasium. For those attending please wear your blue FFA jacket or rodeo shirt in honor of Irv. Private family burial will be in Oakland Cemetery at a later date. Memorials will be used toward the Wapello FFA Program and the Wapello Pro Rodeo in memory of Irv. Condolences may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.
Irvin Eugene Meier, Jr. was born on November 22, 1951 in Algona, Iowa, the son of Irvin, Sr. and Adabelle (Grandgeorge) Meier. Irv was a 1970 graduate of Belmond High School where he was the valedictorian of his graduating class. While in high school he was actively involved in FFA and was a member of the wrestling team. Following high school, he went on to attend college at Iowa State University, where he received his B.S. in Agricultural Education. Irv then began his career of teaching at Dysart-Geneseo High School for 15 years from 1974 until 1989. While there, he also served as the Advisor of the Dysart-Geneseo FFA Chapter (which later became the LaPorte-Dysart FFA Chapter) from 1974-1992. In 1989, Irv briefly left his teaching career and became an agronomist at Tama-Benton Cooperative in Dysart. Returning to teaching in 1992, Irv accepted a position as the Agricultural Education Teacher and FFA Advisor at Wapello High School. Irv retired from teaching in 2013; although no one could say Irv ever really “officially” retired as he continued helping students obtain opportunities and achieve their full potential.
Irv had received the regional winner of the Sound Off Agriculture award, which is given to the top four young Ag teachers in the U.S. He had also received the honorary Iowa FFA degree and honorary American FFA degree and was inducted into the Iowa 4-H hall of fame. Irv worked countless hours on the Wapello Pro Rodeo, working with several judging teams and coached several state and national champions. In addition to his extensive history of accomplishments, Irv enjoyed time spent with his brothers, sisters and their families. He loved spending the holidays with them and playing cards.
Irv will be deeply missed by his siblings, Philippe (Annette) Meier of Boone, Marjorie Aldrich of Boone, Richard (Colleen) Meier of Clarion and Ada Martin of Clarion and nine nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Kelly Aldrich; brother-in-law, Dennis Aldrich and niece, Amanda Stracke.