James S. Meyer (Jim), 81, of The Villages, Florida, passed away on April 30, 2025, after a brief battle with cancer. He was devoted husband, father, and good friend to many. He normally had a smile and was always willing to be of help to whomever and whenever someone needed it. 

Celebration of Life services will be held at 10:30am on Friday, May 16, 2025, at Fairway Christian Church, 8400 E CR 466, The Villages, Florida. A luncheon will follow. Burial will be at a later date at Bushnell Veterans Cemetery, where Jim will receive military honors. 

Jim was born in Fond du Lac, WI to Orville and Georgianna Meyer on February 17, 1944. He was the 2nd of 7, having 3 brothers and 3 sisters.

 Jim grew up on a dairy farm. He attended a Catholic School from 1st through 8th grades, freshman year at a junior high before entering Goodrich High School in Fond du Lac, WI. He graduated in 1962. After which he went into the US Army for 3 years, completing training in Ft. Knox, KY and a short stint in Ft. Benning, GA. The remaining 28 months of duty were spent with the 8th Admin in Bad Kreuznach, Germany before receiving and honorable discharge in 1965. After returning to the good ole USA, Jim received the GI bill to further his education. He graduated from the WI State University at Oshkosh with a Bachelor of Science degree in in 1969. Jim joined the Vets club and the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity where he was the treasurer for 3 years. While in college, Jim fell in love with and married Arlene M Lakota on June 17, 1967, in his junior year.

 On October 10, 1969, Jim began his 31-year career with United Parcel Service. Jim began his career as a trainee, delivering packages in Appleton, WI. Two months later, Jim was promoted and started his management career with UPS in the Milwaukee/Madison areas. His next assignment was in Kansas as a driver trainer. Jim then returned to WI in 1972 and managed UPS facilities in Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire and South Side of Milwaukee. In 198, Jim was promoted to a Division Manager. He held that position in Central WI, Indiana, Dusseldorf Germany, and the Chicagoland area. In 1989, was again promoted as a District Manager for the West New York District, and lived in Buffalo NY. Lastly, Jim was the District Manager for the State of Minnesota and lived in Maple Grove until his retirement on February 28, 2000. Jim and Arlene then bought almost 3 acres of land on Plum Lake in Northern WI. Here they built a log home on a walleye and musky lake. Jim became the Vice President of the Lake Association for 3 years. Jim and Arlene also became members of the Minocqua Country Club and Plum Lake Golf Course. Shortly thereafter, Jim purchased 1203 acres in the UP of Michigan, for hunting for family and friends, hayrides and a hideaway for his golf buddies. Another log home was built.

 Jim and Arlene discovered The Villages, FL in the spring of 2003. They purchased a lot in 2004 and built a home in the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Miona, which was completed on June 15, 2005. Shortly after moving in their new home, Jim and Arlene became members of the Fairway Christian Church. Jim was asked to start the Recreation Committee and was chairman for many years.

 While in The Villages, folks could find him playing or umping softball, playing pickleball, golfing, spending time with family, or working on activity for the Recreation Ministry or the Village of Bridgeport at Lake Miona. 

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Georgianna (Penning) Meyer.

 Jim is survived by his wife of 57 years, Arlene (Lakota) Meyer; his daughter Kellie Ann Meyer Mitchell, of Winter Garden, FL, and her family; his son Matt Meyer, of Tampa, FL, and his family; his sister Judy (Meyer) Franzen, of Oshkosh, WI; brother Richard Meyer of N. Fond Du Lac, WI; his sister Rosalind (Linda) Meyer of Denver, CO; his sister Patricia Meyer, of Highlands Ranch, CO; his brother Paul Meyer of Albuquerque, NM and his brother Michael Meyer

 In Lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the following link below:

Memorial Fund | Fairway Christian Church