Howard Mayer

Howard Mayer passed away July 8th, 2022 at the age of 98. Howard died peacefully with his beloved wife Carole and family by his side.

Howard was born November 9, 1923 to Jacob and Anna Mary (Nehlich) Mayer in McPherson County, South Dakota and moved with his parents at the age of four to a farm north of
Roscoe, South Dakota. He attended high school in Roscoe graduating in 1941. After high school he attended barber college in Fargo, North Dakota and upon returning to Roscoe worked as an apprentice barber from January 1942 to March 1943. In March 1943 he was inducted into the Army and served in the Asiatic-pacific theater of operations for 27 months. His duties took him to the islands of New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Hollandia Bay, New Guinea and Leyte Samar and Luzon in the Philippines.

Returning home to Roscoe he married the love of his life, Carole Penor in November of 1946. They owned and operated a lunchroom for a short time. He was also employed by the City of Roscoe until 1951. He Joined the federal civil service in 1951 and moved to The Black Hills Army Depot, Igloo, South Dakota. At the time of the Depots closing in 1966 he was the civilian personnel officer. In 1966 he transferred to the Indian Health Service in Aberdeen, South Dakota and Billings Montana, the Alaska Native Health Service in Anchorage Alaska and the Veterans Administration Medical Service in Hot Springs, South Dakota and Fargo, North Dakota until his retirement in 1987.

Howard was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kiwanis, and the Elks. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Mansfield, South Dakota served as a session member, tri-parish member and elder. He was also an avid lifelong learner. He had an unending knowledge of trivia and could answer nearly all of the Jeopardy questions.

Howard and Carole were married for 75 amazing years. They enjoyed years of traveling together after his retirement. They took numerous bus trips across the United States and spent 19 winters in Texas, Florida, and Arizona. They also traveled together to Germany. They met many lifelong friends on these journeys.

Howard and Carole had five children, Ronald, Douglas (Gretchen) Pamela (Chris) Holly (Jeff) and Kurtis (Jennifer). He had 11 grandchildren and 10 Great-grandchildren. Howard was an exceptional Grandpa; he gave each of his grandsons their first haircut, attended as many grandchild events as possible and spent numerous hours at Story Book Land in Aberdeen each summer.

Howard was proceeded in death by his parents and siblings.

Greetings may be sent to Carole Mayer at 1770 Unit 111 Tablerock Road, Rapid City, SD 57701.