Gary A. Meier, age 64, of Orchard, passed away Monday, April 8, 2013, at Avera Sacred Hospital in Yankton, SD.

Visitation was held  from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2013, at the Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater.

Funeral  services were held at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, April 12, 2013, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Orchard with Rev. Marcel Kohlmeyer officiating. Music was provided by Lynae Stelling, organist and Pastor Jon Sollberger, guitarist.  

Pallbearers were Larry Meiras, Merlyn Maple, Christopher O'Brien, Kurt Bravo, Mike Barlow, Kevin McConnell, Chaedric Meier, and Christopher Brummels.  

Burial was in the Ewing City Cemetery in Ewing with military rites conducted by the Orchard Legion Post #136.

Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Clearwater was in charge of arrangements.

Gary was born on July 22, 1948, at Ft. Collins, CO, to Lawrence and Charlotte (VanSlyke) Meier, he was a twin.  He grew up in Randolph and attended St. Frances Grade School and graduated from Randolph Public High School in 1966.  

He was in the United States Army from 1967 to 1970, spending time in Texas, Virginia and Germany.  After the service he went to College at Kearney State College and graduated in May of 1975 with a bachelor of arts degree, with a history major and a geography minor. On Aug. 28, 1971, he was united in marriage to Cheryl Brummels, three daughters were born to this union, Catherine, Rebecca and Rachael.  

Gary taught school from 1977-1978 in Orchard. He then worked as a plumber, in construction and as a salesman.  He was a sales representative for Danco, a plumbing supply company in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota from 1995 until 2012.  

He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Orchard. Gary enjoyed camping, fishing, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren.  

Gary is survived by his wife Cheryl; three daughters, Catherine and husband Chris O'Brien of Duluth, MN, Rebecca and husband Kurt  Bravo of Papillion and Rachael and husband Mike Barlow of Orchard; five grandchildren: Riley, Jack, Tessa, Dylan and Kate; brothers and sisters: Dennis and Chong Meier of Street, MA, Dwayne and Sara Meier of Pueblo, CO, Connie and Roger Tufte of Watertown, SD, Mary Nelson (his twin) of Sioux City, Iowa, and Rhonda and Brad Kobold, of Salix, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.snidermemorialfh.com.