Annabel Meyer

Annabel Meyer, 94, of Iowa Falls, passed away Monday, April 6, 2026 at Scenic Manor. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at the First United Methodist Church in Iowa Falls. Annabel will be laid to rest next to her husband at the Union Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory of Iowa Falls is caring for Annabel and her family. Annabel Lydia Streyffeler was born on January 5, 1932 to Earl Rudolph Streyffeler and Margaret Wilma (Suddath) Streyffeler. She was welcomed home by her older siblings, Joy, Danny and Glenn and later joined by her younger brother, Malcolm. Beginning in Minneapolis, Annabel’s family moved frequently; by the age of 18, she had moved 17 times. She embraced each move as an opportunity to meet new people and maintained a wide and lasting circle of friends throughout her life. The family eventually moved to Popejoy, Iowa, where Annabel graduated in 1949 in a class of twelve. While attending a Methodist youth event in Popejoy, Annabel famously tapped a handsome Leonard Meyer on the shoulder. The two dated while she continued her education at Westmar College until they were married on September 1, 1951 and shared 64 years of marriage. After all of the moving during her childhood, she was ready to put down roots. The couple lived in Iowa Falls the rest of her life, where together, they raised five children: Lee Ann, Laurel, Marlon, Allen and Lavonne. They also opened their home to two foreign exchange students and a foster daughter, Debbie. While raising her family, Annabel resumed her education, earning her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in 1967 and a Master’s Degree in Library Science in 1971. She also began her career as a school librarian at Alden-Buckeye-Popejoy Schools in 1967. She became a beloved figure to generations of students, many of whom fondly remember her bringing stories to life by dressing as characters during read-alouds. She retired in 1997 after 30 years of dedicated service. In retirement, Annabel remained active in her community. She participated in the Parchment Club, Retired School Personnel Association and the Christian Women’s Club, and volunteered at the CWU Thrift Shop and Hansen Hospital gift shop. She played trombone in the Red, White, and Blue Band and enjoyed bicycling, including completing RAGBRAI twice. She and Leonard cherished traveling to visit family across the country and took memorable trips abroad to England and Canada. Following Leonard’s passing in 2016, Annabel moved to Ashbrook and later to Scenic Manor, where she continued to be surrounded by family, care and community. Annabel is survived by her children: Lee Ann Olney; Laurel (Jan Novak) Jimenez; Marlon Meyer; Allen (Lori) Meyer and Lavonne Murlowski. She is also survived by her grandchildren: John (Melanie) Jimenez, Aaron (Kim) Jimenez, Vince Jimenez, Crystal (Mike) Arkovich, Chris (Nikki) Jespersen, Katie (Ian) Rees and Jaime (Andrei) Vasilev; great-grandchildren: Jessica (Robert), Javi, Johnny, Chris (Aiden), Rebekah, Corey (Maddie), Jake (Alyssa), Lexz, Cooper, Austin, Tate, Hank, Mia and Charlie; and great-great-grandchildren: Ben, Emma, Zoey, Aaron, Stella, Layla, Jayden, Santiago and Zayda. She was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings; her husband, Leonard; a son-in-law, Nick; a grandson, Matthew; a foster daughter, Debbie; and a great-great-grandson, Junior. In lieu of flowers, the family requests those wishing to express sympathy consider a contribution that will be directed toward the First United Methodist Church of Iowa Falls, where Annabel had attended for over 70 years.

Tributes

Annabel Meyer

January 5, 1932 - April 6, 2026