December 5, 1965 – Monday, February 15, 2016
Service Information
Family Life Center at St. John’s Lutheran Church;
Monday; February 22, 2016
10:00 A.M.
Visitation Information
Family Life Center at St. John’s Lutheran Church;
Sunday; February 21, 2016
6 – 9 PM; 7 PM prayer service
Pastor Philip J. Meyer, age 50 of Buffalo, passed away Monday, February 15, 2016 at the Buffalo Hospital due to ALS. Philip John Meyer was born in Faribault, Minnesota on December 5, 1965 to Robert and Karen Meyer. The family moved to Rochester in 1968.
He attended Rochester Central Lutheran School through 9th grade and graduated from John Marshall High School in 1984. He attended Concordia College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated with a BA Director of Christian Education Degree with a minor in Church Relations in 1989. His ministry began at Camp Luther in Wisconsin. He was ordained within the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in 2009. Pastor Phil shared his love of the Lord Jesus Christ by serving at congregations in Idaho, North Dakota, and Minnesota, most recently for St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Minnesota.
Philip Meyer met Vanessa Poston in 1994 and they married in 1995 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Idaho Falls. They were blessed with two sons, Dylan and Jesse.
Phil enjoyed writing and sharing music, including playing the piano and guitar. He enjoyed the beaches of Cozumel, golfing, and cheering for the Minnesota Vikings.
Phil is survived by his wife, Vanessa and sons, Dylan and Jesse; parents, Robert and Karen Meyer of Rochester, MN; sister, Paula (Mark) Meyer, Joshua and Shealeigh of Longmont, CO; brother, Brian (Jill) Meyer, Brennan, Emily, Lincoln, McKinley of Moorhead, MN; and other family members and friends, including Kathryn Elsen, his dedicated caregiver during the last months of his life. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents and infant sister, Sarah Meyer.
A celebration of Phil’s life will be held Sunday, February 21, 2016 from 6 to 9 PM with prayer service and a time of sharing at 7 PM in the Family Life Center at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo. There will be a visitation starting at 9:00 AM with funeral service starting at 10:00 AM on Monday, February 22, 2016 in the Family Life Center at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Buffalo. Interment will be at a later date at Oakwood Cemetery in Rochester.
Memorials are suggested to the ALS Association Minnesota Chapter, or St. John’s Lutheran Church College Scholarship Fund.
Serving the family is the Peterson Chapel of Buffalo. 763-682-1363. www.thepetersonchapel.com
To Phil’s family; John and I give our deepest sympathies for your loss. Phil was a great person with a kind and giving heart. Heaven has acquired another wonderful voice for the choir. May God’s presence hold you close.
My heart is so sad…I just heard a sermon for the first time a couple months ago at a baby funeral. Walked away hearing awesome things about his service and knowing how great he was as a pastor. Blessings.
Bob, Karen, Vanessa and family:
Thanks for sharing Phil with me. Phil shared his love for playing guitar with me when we were best friends in High School. I’m playing today in a large part due to Phil’s influence.
Though investment in our families, time, and distance prevented an on-going close friendship, the memories are still as rich today as they were in the mid-80’s at John Marshall High School. Musicals “Oklahoma” and “Annie Get Your Gun”, choir and playing cards. Many memories. (To include the concussion Phil gave me when I took a goal-line stance playing “winter football” behind his house during one Christmas break – LOL!)
We are believing and trusting God will sustain you all during this difficult time!
Bryan and DeeDee Jacobson
Rapid City, SD
I am so sorry for the pain of loss. Hoping for all to find Peace in the Faith of our Lord…
Vanessa and boys:
May the peace of our Lord and the knowledge of His resurrection bring you comfort. We send our deepest sympathy and heartfelt love.
With all our love,
Dan & Deb
Vanessa, Dylan and Jesse; I am so sorry to read of Phil’s passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and may the Lord comfort you at this difficult time. He was a good man and will be missed by many. Hugs are being sent to you from Idaho.
Kathi Galloway, Pocatello
We are so sorry for your loss. Phil was a gifted musician and a gifted speaker. Phil was our pastor and friend and we will always be grateful for his service at Faith Lutheran church in Pocatello, Id. We received God’s word in simplicity and love from Phil. RIP
Vanessa, I read your husband’s obituary in the Idaho Falls Post Register this morning and was so sad to learn of his passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you feel peace, love, and comfort now and in the days ahead.
It was a pleasure and privilege to call you friend growing up. I send heart felt condolences to your family for the emptiness they feel while you are apart.
We are sorry for your loss. Pastor Meyer was a good person and always made us feel welcome in his church. Pastor Phil will be missed.
Pastor Phil will be greatly missed by me and my family. He always believed in me and gave me the most wonderful opportunities to serve in children’s ministry at Faith Lutheran. He was a great encouragement and example. We will keep always in our hearts Pastor Phil and the words he preached and lived. Vanessa, Dylan, and Jesse; thoughts and prayers with you always.
Dear Vanessa; From the memory halls of Alameda and Highland, I’m writing to let you know your family is in the prayers of people in Pocatello. We have a group of girls that stay in touch and have added you to our prayers. We know you understand life after death because of your faith in Christ and we pray that your faith will be alive in this time of grief. May the Holy Spirit comfort you and give you peace! Brenda Rigby Pollard
We would like to express our condolences to Vanessa, your sons and the rest of your family. We have so many great memories of Pastor and he will truly be missed by us all.
Vanessa, I am so sorry to hear the news of Phil’s passing. For you, the boys and the Meyers family I wish you hope in the midst of sorrow and comfort in the midst of pain. May peace and love be with you all.
I first met Pastor Myers at my husbands funeral 3 years ago, and his spiritual presence was there and will never be forgotten! I lost my father at 53 and thought of you often. Your husband and dad will always be there to guide you on your journeys. Don’t cry cause this happened but Smile cause he happened to the world and you. He truly celebrated life. Feel blessed to have met him.