Herbert "Wayne" Meyer

Herbert “Wayne” Meyer
August 9, 1941 - August 16, 2022

Wayne Meyer passed away peacefully at his home on August 16, 2022, with his family at his side.

Wayne was born to Herbert William and Flora Meyer on August 9, 1941. He attended Merriam Grade School and Shawnee Mission North High School, and in 1963 he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Civil Engineering. Wayne volunteered with the Peace Corps from 1963 to 1968, designing & supervising construction of bridges and undertaking other civil engineering work in Bangladesh and Iran. After completing his MBA in 1968 at the University of Chicago, Wayne decided to pursue a career in small business management.

Wayne served as Vice President of the Meyer Lumber Company from 1968 to 1992 in Merriam, Kansas. He took part in frequent volunteer activities including social ministries, refugee re-settlement, low income housing, chambers of commerce and business associations, and counseling small businesses. In 1981 he married his wife, Nancy.

Wayne eventually felt a call to return to work in public service. From 1992 to 2011, Wayne worked as a consultant on 35 short and long term projects in 20 developing countries throughout Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Most of these were economic growth projects supporting small businesses—construction companies, wine makers, coffee and orange farmers, professional associations, farmers groups, and chambers of commerce; plus some infrastructure improvement projects including roads and schools.

Wayne retired in 2011, returning to Kansas City once again to enjoy his retirement years with his wife, his ever-growing family, and his cats, Dusty, Antoine, and Simba. He loved to root for the KU Jayhawks and Kansas City Chiefs, and stayed active in local and overseas mission work with Trinity Lutheran Church up until his cancer diagnosis.

Wayne is survived by his wife Nancy, his children Christopher, Diana and Victor, his grandchildren Michael, Stella, and Cameron, his sisters Diane and Nancy, and their families.

A service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 21 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5601 W 62nd St, Mission, KS.