Severien G. Meyer left our midst on Sunday, November 30, 2014, at home, with his family at his side. 

Sev was born in Watertown, New York, a city near the village of Sackets Harbor, where he was raised. He was the son of Severien G. Meyer, Sr., insurance agent and pianist, and Raema Inez Gowing Meyer, a fashion designer and wonderful cook who snared her spouse with the fare she served in her modest restaurant. Lake Ontario was Sev's playground. His grandfather, Rudolph Gowing, a boat builder, and his grandmother, Inez Gowing, lived nearby. Sackets Harbor, important port during the War of 1812, instilled a love of history in Sev. When he helped his mother in the garden, they found musket balls when they turned the soil.

Music was a never-ending passion for Sev, which he shared those around him his entire life. It began with the gift of a field drum when he was five years old. The streets of Sackets Harbor rang with parades organized by Sev, who played the lead drum, with his mates waving flags and marching to his cadence at the finale. He took piano and violin lessons and added guitar, bass guitar and a trap drum set to his musical might. 

After graduating from Sackets High School, Sev chose William Penn College in Oskaloosa, Iowa, for his education. He met lifelong friends in its music room and became a founding member of the Sheffields, an 8-piece show band recently inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As lead singer and bass guitarist, Sev fronted this regionally famous band throughout Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Kansas. He earned his way through college with his music gigs, graduating with a bachelor's degree with a major in American history. During summer breaks, Sev was a tour guide on the Uncle Sam's boat line in Alexandria Bay, New York, where he narrated a tour of the Thousand Islands afloat in the St. Lawrence River. His gift of gab was honed during those summers, and he lightened the tours with his cheeky humor.  

Sev accepted a teaching position in Glen Arbor, Michigan, and performed weekends in nearby Traverse City. There he met his bride of 41 years, Paula Jean (Green) Meyer. After teaching four years, Sev and his brother, Fred, traveled on the road As "Sev & Fred", performing in night clubs and  fine-tuning his performing skills, including comedy, impressions, original song-writing and large doses of nonsense which entertained audiences near and far. His impression of Willy Nelson, including a bandana headband and a single line of lyric would bring down the house.

In 1975 Sev and P.J. settled in St. Louis, where Sev performed and P.J. attended law school. They moved to Hermann, Missouri in 1983, and Sev's musical talents, passion for Hermann's wonderful German architecture and its citizens' community spirit engaged his attention for the rest of his life. So complete was his attachment to Hermann, he joked that he had lived in Hermann in a former life and baled sauerkraut in his basement. 

Sev contributed to the musical life of Hermann by performing at wineries, restaurants and Showboat Theatre productions such as "A Dickens of a Christmas" in which Sev's rendition of Scrooge remains a pinnacle performance. He and P.J. also owned Seven Sisters B & B on Schiller Street and operated a horse-drawn carriage tour of Hermann's Historic District. 
In 1990 Sev and P.J. adopted four beautiful little girls and focused on home life. After their daughters were grown, Sev and P.J. adopted their son, Zach, in 2006. 

Sev was actively involved in Hermann's improvement league as a member of the Brush & Palette Club, Historic Hermann, Inc., Gasconade County Historic Society, Hermann Chamber of Commerce, Hermann Fine Arts Council, Madkap Productions, Inc., and Hermann Garden Club, as well as many betterment projects such as tree planting, sidewalk improvement and personally restoring four historic buildings. Sev and fellow members of the Brush and Palette Club worked tirelessly to restore the Rotunda plus numerous other worthy projects in Hermann. 

A poet and songwriter, Sev wrote songs based on local legend, history and colorful characters and shared his songs at many charitable events. He was  a member of the committee charged with the construction of the new high school and served on many Maifest and Octoberfest committees. He  loved helping to expand the tourist presence in Hermann. Sev taught high school language arts in Montgomery City and helped his wife as her office manager in her law practice in Hermann.

Sev is survived by his wife, P.J., daughters: Amanda Gail Meyer, Crystal Rose Helton and her husband, Jacob Helton, Paula Joyce Meyer and Rebeccah Gowing Meyer; his son:  Zach Meyer; and grandchildren: Terry Jacob Helton, Aviendha Aurora Helton, Clark Alexander Helton, Willow Rose Helton, Thora Raine Helton, Courteny Amiah Fletcher, and William Aiden Boyd; sister: Gail Christine Kuriger of Skaneateles,N.Y.; a brother: Richard Tompkins Meyer of Auburn N.Y., and many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

A celebration of Sev's life will be held Saturday, April 11th at 3:00 p.m. at the Hermann City Park Rotunda Building, Hermann, MO.  Memorial donations may be given to Brush & Palette Club or Hermann Scenic Regional Library.  

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