Wendell A. Meyer, 91, of Belleville, IL, born February 13, 1935, in Addieville, IL, peacefully passed away Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO.
Having lived 91 years, Wendell was a man who loved his family, was always up for an adventure and was fiercely independent. He grew up as a farmer, the second son of 5 and remained connected to the land by always having a garden and working with wood. He was great with numbers and could figure out creative projects in his head. He began his career as a newspaper typesetter eventually working for the St Louis Post-Dispatch. As the world changed, Wendell changed. He went from manual type setting to working on a computer and doing graphic type design and printing at the end of his career.
Wood was his real love. For over 40 years, you could find Wendell and his wife, Elizabeth at the Belleville Flea Market selling their wares to the community. After he retired in the early 90’s, he and Elizabeth opened Meyer’s Woodcraft downtown Belleville. He loved having a space to work with other local crafters and to engage with the community. Wendell never knew a stranger and whenever he would go out in public, he always saw someone he knew and had to talk with them.
For Wendell, life was an adventure. He and Elizabeth loved taking out on the road to visit family in Virginia, Florida or friends in Washington state. He was the driver and she was the navigator. He thought nothing of driving 700 miles in a day to be with his family in Roanoke, VA, even at the age of 91. Wendell was a man who shared his opinions and thoughts about the world. If he thought it, he would share it – no filter. He loved connecting with his community, and as a widower in his 90’s had more of a social life than his children. He was most happy when he was eating and playing board games with family and friends. Wendell will be missed by all who knew him.
Wendell was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Elizabeth Ann Meyer, nee Miller, whom he married on June 15, 1957, and who died on April 15, 2020; his parents, Samuel and Irene, nee Moehlenkamp, Meyer; two brothers, Marvin Meyer, Orville Meyerm; and a sister-in-law, Grace Meyer.
Surviving are his son, Mark (Boonlak) Meyer of Belleville, IL; two daughters, Sandra (Kevin) Richter of Belleville, IL, and Rev. Lisa (Frank) Vineyard of Roanoke, VA;
seven grandchildren, Lindsee (Ben) Welle, Mackenzie Meyer (Josh Lamczyk), Madison (Chase) Allen, Kyle (Tessa) Richter, Chad Richter (Megan Barnett), Kimberly (Ryan) Holsapple, and Bryce (Laura) Richter; eleven great-grandchildren, Luka Lamczyk, Joey Welle, Otis Allen, Rhett, Willa, and Gemma Richter, Eleanor Richter, Charles, Paige, and Brynn Holsapple, and soon to be here, Sutton Richter; two brothers, Roland (Loretta) Meyer, and Paul Meyer; a sister-in-law, Carolyn Meyer; along with many dear nieces and nephews; and dear friends, Alex and Marcia Hadler.
Memorials may be made to the Belleville Area Humane Society or the Belleville/Swansea Moose Lodge 1221. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 21, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday, June 22, 2026, at Christ United Church of Christ, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 22, 2026, at Christ United Church of Christ, Belleville, IL, with Rev. Sheldon Culver and Pastor John Tinge officiating.
A private burial will be at Green Mount Protestant Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
