Anne Davis Meyer

Anne Davis Meyer, 88, of Rockford passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. She
was married 62 years to her beloved husband Norman H. Meyer. Together they built a home
where they farmed, gardened and raised five children. Anne valued hard work, loved her family,
and strived to make the world a better place.
The eldest daughter of Fred and Emma (Enders) Davis, Anne was born May 23, 1933 in Cherry
Valley, IL. She graduated from East High School in 1951 and received an English degree from
the University of Illinois. Anne remembered her college years fondly and enjoyed sorority life,
metalsmithing, involvement in the theater and—most of all—meeting her husband Norm.
Anne was a resourceful and adventurous homemaker. She kept a large vegetable garden,
tended fruit trees, foraged mushrooms, and developed a robust canning, preserving and
fermentation program. She shared her skills with her children and as a leader of their local 4-H
club. There was always room at the Meyer family table, and Anne loved nothing more than
bringing everyone together for holiday meals. Anne and Norm opened their home to friends,
relatives and 17 foreign exchange students.
Anne took great pride in her work. She ran Enders Greenhouse in Cherry Valley for 32 years,
continuing the family business started by her grandfather in 1912. There she cultivated her love
of native plants and passion for prairie restoration. A Master Gardener, Master Naturalist and an
educator at heart, Anne shared her native plant expertise generously and enthusiastically. She
dedicated herself to a prairie installation at her church, which grew into a flourishing educational
habitat for children at Immanuel Lutheran School. She was an active member of Rock River
Valley Wild Ones, Immanuel Lutheran Church and the League of Women Voters, and nurtured
lifelong friendships with her Alpha Omicron Pi sisters.
In her retirement, Anne and Norm enjoyed travel and volunteerism. They donated two historic
barns from their farm to Midway Village Museum and were integral to their restoration. Anne
also led efforts to establish the prairie and native wetlands that make up Midway Village’s
Heritage Gardens.
Anne will be remembered for her lifelong curiosity and her intrepid spirit. She was always ready
to roll up her sleeves and learn a new skill, take on a new project, or champion a noble cause.
Her legacy of prairie restoration and habitat preservation can be seen throughout Northern
Illinois, including in a namesake prairie garden at Nygren Wetlands.
Anne is survived by her children, Karl Meyer of Lorraine, KS, Carrie (Ernie Carlson) Meyer of
Silver Spring, MD, Becky (Eric) Baeverstad of Rockford, and Eric Meyer of Rockford; her
grandchildren, RaeAnne (James) Joiner, Lindsey Meyer, Molly Baeverstad, and Sarah
Baeverstad; her great grandchildren, James and Karson; and her sister-in-law sister, Dorothy
(Rev. Wil) Ziekert. She is predeceased by her husband Norman H. Meyer, her son Daniel
Meyer, her sister Leslie Oswald, and brothers-in-law Eugene Meyer and Warren Meyer.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, July 16, 2021, at Immanuel Lutheran
Church in Belvidere, IL, with a visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Arrangements by Fitzgerald
Funeral Home. Memorials preferred to the Natural Land Institute (320 S 3rd St, Rockford, IL
61104), Midway Village Museum (6799 Guilford Rd, Rockford, IL 61107) or Severson Dells
(8786 Montague Rd, Rockford, IL 61102).