Nila Ann Noble Meyer

Nila Ann Noble Meyer

Jan. 25, 1929 – May 15, 2020

OSAGE CITY — Nila Ann Noble Meyer joined her Lord and Savior Friday, May 15, 2020, at Peterson’s Assisted Living, Osage City. She was 91.

She was born Jan. 25, 1929, on a farm outside of Jeffers, Minn., the daughter of Archie and Mable Swartz Noble. She graduated from Jeffers High School in 1947 and attended Chaffey Junior College, in Ontario, Calif., earning a teaching certificate in 1948. She later earned her bachelor’s degree in 1960 and master’s degree in 1965, in education from Emporia State University.

The Minnesota girl met her Kansas boy in California in 1948 and fell in love. Carl returned to his family farm in Osage City, after discharge from the Navy. Nila came to Kansas and taught second grade in Olathe in 1949.

Nila and Carl married in Jeffers, Minn., Aug. 25, 1950, and moved to their home, of 69 years, six miles north of Osage City in 1951. He survives of the home.

She taught the 1950 school year at a one-room country school near Harveyville. Nila began teaching third grade at Osage City Elementary in 1960. She loved teaching natural sciences and together she and her students studied dinosaurs, the life cycle of the monarch butterfly and grew tadpoles to frogs in her classroom. She was also passionate about soil conservation and her students always entered the soil conservation poster contest. She was recognized in 1985 as the state award winning teacher for Environmental Conservation Education. Nila retired from 36 years of teaching in 1994.

She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Gerald, Virgil and Loren; and a sister, Cleo Howard.

Besides her husband, she is survived by three children, Laura DeBaun and husband, Tom, Osage City, Karen Oliver and husband, William, Shawnee, and Carl Meyer Jr. and wife, Shera, Oskaloosa; six grandchildren, Alex DeBaun (Tammi), Valley Center, Loren DeBaun (Letisha), Osage City, Kathryn Boss (Lucas), Osage City, Maureen Baraban (Brian), Overland Park, Will Oliver, Shawnee, and Owen Meyer, Oskaloosa; two step-grandchildren, Kelli George (Manoj), Olathe, and Jill Rogers (Gary), Tonganoxie; 11 great-grandchildren; and six step great-grandchildren.

Nila’s family was her passion. She will be missed by one and all.

Sharon Larson was an exceptional support to Nila since 2018. We would like to thank the dedicated staff at Peterson’s Assisted Living for their loving care in Nila’s last year and Avalon Hospice for their support and care in the last few months.

A private family graveside service, officiated by Pastor Libby Oberdorf, is planned. A Celebration of Life service will be held as soon as COVID-19 restrictions allow.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, Osage City or Nila Meyer Scholarship Fund and sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth St., Osage City, KS 66523.

Condolences may be expressed at VanArsdalefs.com.