Robert Meyer

Robert “Robb” Meyer, 66, of West Des Moines, formerly of Newton, died Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at his home. A brief service will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10 followed by a celebration of life visitation until 8 p.m. at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Memorials in Robb’s name (checks made payable to Rob Meyer) maybe left at the funeral home.

Robb, the son of Robert and Barbara (Winchell) Meyer, was born July 20, 1953, at Camp Lejeune, N.C. He grew up in Newton, where he was captain of the wrestling team and class president for the Newton High School Class of 1971. For many years he owned and operated the Flying M Express trucking business. On Jan. 6, 1991, Robb dedicated his life to sober living and helping others do the same. He returned to school and received his degree in psychology and his master’s in counseling from Upper Iowa University and became a substance abuse counselor. He was the director for the Des Moines General Substance Abuse Treatment Center and later opened multiple locations of Rainbow Recovery Center to help women, who were battling addiction, and their children stay together. Robb was a proud 28-year member of AA and was very involved in the recovery community, attending meetings and events. His friends became his family and he would do anything for them.

Robb enjoyed coaching his children’s activities. He enjoyed spending time with his family, and his grandchildren were the light of his life. He also enjoyed riding his Harley. He attended St. Timothy Episcopal Church in West Des Moines.

Robb is survived by his children, Heather (Ken) Ksiazek of Bondurant, Rob (Kim) Meyer of Baxter, Cortney Sprague of Sterling, Ill., Heidi (Eric) Rodriguez of Phoenix, Ariz., Jacqueline (John) Walker of West Des Moines and Andy Meyer of West Des Moines; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his siblings, Debbie (Dennis) McDermott of Arizona, Randy Meyer of Newton and DeDe Blom of Newton; and his many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal and paternal grandparents; and a niece, Tiffiny Dlouhy.