Longtime Keizer resident Joe Van Meter recalls growing up in a family that was very involved in its community and church.
Van Meter, who was raised in Salem, said his parents participated in parent teacher organizations and his father served as president of the Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.
The Van Meter family helped build the church building, which sits along State Street in Salem. He can still remember where in the building he pounded the nails.
As an adult, Van Meter continued the life of community service that his family held. To him, it is a choice to do so.
“My kids were blessed to live in Keizer, and it didn’t feel right to not give something back,” Van Meter said.
Van Meter, 78, was honored as Keizer’s 2026 First Citizen during the Celebrate Keizer Awards Banquet on Saturday, Jan. 17. The recognition came a week after the Keizer Chamber of Commerce surprised him with the announcement.
Since he moved to Keizer in 1972 with his first wife and children, intending to live closer to friends in the area, Van Meter has built a long resume of service to the community. He joined the Keizer Rotary Club, later serving as the club’s president, and has been involved with Keizer Little League and various McNary High School committees.
Van Meter has served on the Keizer City Council and on the Keizer Parks and Urban Renewal Advisory committees. He served as director on the Keizer Fire District Board for 24 years before deciding last year not to seek another term.
He joined the Salem Electric board 21 years ago, in part inspired by his time working as a contractor to bury the electricity company’s wires to fund his degree from Oregon College of Education – now Western Oregon University. He later returned to the school for a master’s degree in correctional administration.
After helping to develop a juvenile justice certificate at Chemeketa Community College, Van Meter served on the community college’s board for two years. In his career, Van Meter worked in juvenile corrections in Marion County and later the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility.
In a letter nominating Van Meter for First Citizen, his daughter, Heather, recounted her father’s dedication to community service while also maintaining his career serving the state and attending all of his children’s sports activities. Heather is now a lawyer, and her siblings work as a pharmacist and civil engineer.
Heather wrote that her father refers to Keizer as “God’s Country,” and “is exactly the type of parent and Keizer citizen” that the city should honor. She believes her father spent “tens of thousands of hours” in various boards, committees, councils and groups working to improve the lives of residents.
“He never did these things for recognition or accolades, he did it all because it was the right thing to do to make our world a little bit better place,” Heather stated. “Being named First Citizen is simply a well-deserved recognition for his life-long dedication to serving the City and people of Keizer.”
Reflecting on his experiences, Van Meter said knowing that he has contributed to the community as he watched it expand services, including the development of Keizer Rapids Park and the Keizer Police Department, has been gratifying.
Similarly, watching his daughter’s softball team win the state championship during her senior year felt rewarding. In his previous roles leading softball with the Keizer Little League, he had watched the athletes grow.
Van Meter said he is “thrilled” to have resided in Keizer, and believes the local residents make the city a good place to live. He noted that community members encouraged him and his wife of 30 years, Karen, to become a couple and described this as a highlight of his life.
“I’ve given back a lot to the community, but I still think that I get more from it than I’ve given to it,” Van Meter said.
NEWS TIP? Contact reporter Krista Kroiss at [email protected].
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