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January 25, 2000
GFW residents gather todeal with student's deathSchool offersgrief counselingBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer GIBBON -- Death at an early age marks the end of dreams that never developed and connects communities in unique ways. For residents of Gibbon, Fairfax and Winthrop the death of 14-year-old John Lynn Meyer marked an event that will forever change the face of the class of 2003. Meyer, who died Saturday from injuries related to a snowmobile accident in West Newton Township near Clear Lake, was remembered on Monday as residents gathered to deal with their loss. "When we heard about the accident we called a special meeting of the crisis team, which met Sunday afternoon," Supt. Stephen Malone said. The crisis team discussed the available options and decided that they would hold a gathering at the elementary school in an attempt to help students deal with the loss of one of their own, he said. Because Monday was a staff work day and there would be no school for students, the crisis team decided it would be a good chance for students to share their feelings. The district opened the gymnasium at the elementary school in GIbbon and provided transportation from the campuses in Fairfax and Winthrop so community members and students could share their grief. Assisting with the process were members of the GFW Ministerial Association; the GFW Crisis team; school guidance counselor/ school social workers; and counselors from River Bend Education District. Working in small groups or as individuals, people were invited to write things they remembered about Meyer on pieces of paper and develop posters expressing their feelings. Occasionally a counselor would remove a small group of students to work with them as a group in a separate room. "The entire goal of the day was to assist in whatever way possible to help people work through this," Malone said. "We will be arranging comfort rooms at the high school throughout the day on Tuesday for any students needing to use them." The comfort rooms will be staffed by counselors and social workers. Students will be allowed to come and go from the comfort rooms as the need arises. "We will have them available all day on Tuesday, but will provide them at least until Thursday, or longer if needed," Malone said. "We will also watch the students to see if any additional help is needed during the coming weeks." Monday's event was not designed as a memorial service or as a structured memorial event. It was a merely a chance for parents, students and others to share in a non-threatening environment, Malone said. Students will be allowed to attend the funeral, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, provided they have their parents' permission, he said. "Because of limited seating at the funeral home; however, we are encouraging students to attend one of the two visitation periods instead," he said. The visitation is scheduled 3-9 p.m. today and 7:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, Gibbon. Meyer was riding his snowmobile near Clear Lake with two of his friends around noon on Saturday when the boys unknowingly entered private property. The owners had erected a steel cable on the site in an attempt to prevent trespassers from vandalizing the vacant farm house at the site. Meyer died from injuries sustained when his snowmobile struck that cable. The owners, who have not been named, have stated they are saddened by the community's loss and grieve along with everyone else. Meyer was born May 4, 1985 in New Ulm and was a freshman at GFW High School in Winthrop.
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