Bob and Joan Meier

By AMY SCHWEITZER
Hub Staff Writer

ELM CREEK - With nine children on the farm, there was always something to do - coaching a baseball team, helping with a church group, 4-H club and school class - and Bob and Joan Meier were willing to help anyone who needed it.

"Primarily, we were an old-fashioned farm family," Joan said.

Today, the Meiers are retired, although they still live on the farm southeast of Elm Creek. They still help out with whatever they can and enjoy spending time with their nine children and 22 grandchildren.

"Nobody ever turns anybody down who needs help," Bob Meier said. "It's always been that way, especially in a small town," his wife added. "It was just a way of life."

Dale and Ilia Wright of Elm Creek think that attitude is why the Meier name immediately comes to mind when they think of volunteers.

"I believe that Bob and Joan Meier represent the best of the volunteer and community spirit that we are all especially aware of following the Sept. 11 events," the Wrights said in their nomination letter that led to the Meiers being named the 2002 Freedom Award winners in the Agriculture Category.

BOB ALSO spent time at jobs off the farm to support the couple's growing family.

"I sheared sheep, was an auction clerk, even worked in the sale barn in Kearney," Bob said.

Both Bob and Joan served on the Immaculate Conception Church council and committees through the years, and Joan ran the Elm Creek Food Pantry until recently.

"Our whole family helped with that," Joan said of traveling to Kearney to pick up food to be distributed to needy families. As the five boys and four girls were growing up, there seemed always to be something going on in the Meier house.

"As you would expect with having a large family, they were active in all community youth activities," the Wrights said. "At any community activity, you could be assured of seeing Bob and Joan participating with their family."

The couple has spent many years serving on community boards, including Bob's nine years on the Elm Creek Co-op Board and Joan's four years on the Elm Creek School Board in the late 1970s.

"Your children never appreciate it but it's something everyone needs to do," Joan said.

THE MEIERS must have taught their children a love of farming because all of their sons farm, and two of their daughters married farmers.

"Our sons love it even though it doesn't look too lucrative," Bob said with a smile.

Bob was born within two miles of the farm where the couple moved in 1966 after farming with his father. Joan lived not far away and graduated from Odessa High School. In 1952, Bob left for the KoreanWar, leaving behind Joan with a baby.

"Pat was 6 weeks old when I crawled on the bus to Korea," Bob said.

Bob, who served in U.S. Army artillery and as a cook, achieved the rank of sergeant with three battle stars by the time he came home.

Today, he volunteers with the ceremonial firing squad for the American Legion.

The Meiers still live on the place their youngest son, Dave, now operates for them. Bob, 71, retired in 1991 after a stroke slowed him down.

"Our volunteering is more moral support than physical these days," said Joan, 68.

WHEN A hailstorm in 1998 broke out the stained glass windows in the church, the family helped repair the building. They still mow the cemetery.

"That's about the extent of our agriculture anymore," Joan said with a laugh. "That and my garden.

"We always stayed pretty busy," she said. "It takes a lot of community and family support to get through life. We've been fortunate."

e-mail to:

amy.schweitzer@kearneyhub.com