Leonard A. Messmer
Thursday, April 28, 1927
Date of Death:
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Age:
84 years old
Visitation
Date: Monday October 10, 2011
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Second Visitation
Date: Tuesday October 11, 2011
Time: 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location: Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church [ view map ]
Funeral Mass
Date: Tuesday October 11, 2011
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church [ view map ]
Burial
Location: Grandview Memorial Gardens [ view map ]
Thursday, April 28, 1927
Date of Death:
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Age:
84 years old
Thursday, April 28, 1927
Date of Death:
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Age:
84 years old
Leonard A. Messmer
Leonard A. Messmer, 84, of Rochester died on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at Golden Living West. Leonard was born on April 28, 1927 in Mott North Dakota to John and Helen Messmer. After finishing high school, he enlisted in the US Army Air Force where he served as a Sergeant during WWII. He married Katherine Klein on May 26, 1947 in Regent, North Dakota. They farmed in Regent and moved to Rochester in 1953. Leonard worked in maintenance at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. He then was employed as a carpenter and locksmith for St. Mary’s Hospital and retired in 1989 after over 22 years of service.
Leonard was a big-hearted man who was always willing to help friends and family with any building projects or repairs. He loved family gatherings, and especially cherished the time he got to spend with his grandchildren. He enjoyed Polka music and for many years played the drums for the Happy-Go-Lucky Band which included his brother-in-laws. He liked playing cards, bingo, going bowling and golfing, and spending time with his neighborhood friends at Meadowbrook Townhomes and recently with the residents and staff at Golding Living West, where he lived and cared for his wife Kate.
Leonard is survived by his loving wife Katherine of Rochester, three sons, James (Marlene) Messmer, Jareth (Marilyn) Messmer, Joel (Shari) Messmer all of Rochester, a daughter Janise (Kevin) Serwa of Eden Prairie, MN, a Daughter-in-law Karen Messmer of Oronoco, nine grandchildren, Brandon, Nathan, Rochelle, Christina, Deanna, Ryan, Cortney, Michael, and Mackenzie, six great-grandchildren, Elysia, Luke, Ethan, Aubrie, Ayden, and Bergen, a brother, Ralph (Eleanor) Messmer of Mott, ND, sisters Lillian Friedt and Lorraine Klein both of Rochester, Diane Gladowski of Sidney, Montana, and Pam Messmer of Sugar Tree Tennessee.
He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Ervin, and a son, Jerald.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30AM on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at Resurrection Catholic Church with Father Shawn Haremza and Father Donald J. Schmitz officiating. Visitation will be held from 5:00PM to 8:00PM on Monday October, 10, 2011 at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by American Legion Post 92 of Rochester.
Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society and St. Jude Hospice.
Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com
Condolences
The family of Leonard A. Messmer has received the following condolences.
We are so sorry for you loss...Uncle Leonard was a very special person and will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I was sorry about the loss of your father. God be with you and your families during this time.
Cindy
So sorry about your loss, sorry you were not able to be there. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of our wonderful neighbor Leonard. What little time we have known Leonard and Kate, we've enjoyed the short visits and the waves as Leonard would bring Kate back to the nursing home almost each and every day. What wonderful parents you have! God Bless and may each and every day be filled with wonderful memories of your father.
Neighbors....(4321)
Tracy Breuer and Bonnie Tauscher
You are in my thoughts and prayers today. Cherish all the wonderful memories you have of Leonard I know that we will. May he rest in peace.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Messmer family at the time of your loss. May the peace which comes from the memories of love shared, comfort you now and in the days ahead.
Menaka & Dilrukshi de Silva
Ottawa, Canada
So sorry to hear of your loss. Keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Please let us know if we can help in any way
Our thoughts and prayers are with all you at this time. I remember Leonard being a very kind father in the neighborhood and Troy remembers him from St. Mary's Hospital. May the smallest of memories be cherrished the most.
Troy & Melissa (Tralmer) Andrist
i worked at panera north in rochester where i was honored to serve leonard his coffee and treats. i always looked forward to his visits. if he should miss a day i was concerned and would question him upon his return. the panera staff thought of him as part of our family. my prayers and thoughts are with you at this time of loss.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers. May your memories bring you comfort at this time.
Curtis & Michele Wax
Dear Messmers:
Sending my deepest condolences as a staff member of Golden Living Center-West. Leonard was a wonderful human being who we will miss so much! He had a delightful sense of humor, and always helped me with BINGO setup and take down. I'll never forget the twinkle in his eye, and how much he loved Kate. So sorry for your loss, and we will hopefully share some of the burden as truly it is our loss as well. Yours in sympathy, Francie Dahlin Activity Assistant
Our prayers and thoughts are with you at this difficult time. We have both lost our fathers now...miss them dearly - always a piece missing so we are aware of the pain of losing a parent. Your memories of all the great times you had with him will help get you through the tough times.
Bob and Shelley Wiltgen
My condolences to the entire Messmer family. I had the privilege to work with Leonard at St. Marys Hospital years ago. I also remember him when I was a student at St. Francis. I remember seeing him at many church functions, including listening to him call out bingo numbers at Knights of Columbus. My memories of Leonard was that of a gentle man with a great sense of humor who was skilled at what he did and very proud of his family. He and you will be in my prayers. He was a very good man. May God bless you.
I am a friend and former coworker of Janise. I remember Leonard at St, Mary's. I wish to express my condolences. Blessed be his memory.
I grew up with Leonard being a very friendly neighbor. Whenever I needed anything like a key being made or my vehicle wouldnt start he was right there to help. He will be missed in many ways. To the family, I hope you celebrate the life your dad,husband,father-in-law, grandfather,brother and uncle had and that his spirit will be with us forever!
Love,
Tammy and Ray Ellison
We were very privileged to be associated with Late Mr. Leonard Messmer as a family member. He was a very fine gentleman with pleasant manners. Being a down to earth person he was always willing to extend a hand as and when an opportunity arose.
His love and affection to his wife and children are eternal monuments for the younger generation to follow.
We have nothing but the best regards & highest respect to him. May he be reincarnated as a new link to the Golden Chain of Messmer Dynasty.
While we regret very much for not being able to attend the funeral, we wish to convey our deepest sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.
Sincerely - Ananda & Karuna de Silva. 22 Spencer Avenue, Cloyne Ontario Canada. K0H 1K0
We were very privileged to be associated with Late Mr. Leonard Messmer as a family member. He was a very fine gentleman with pleasant manners. Being a down to earth person he was always willing to extend a hand as and when an opportunity arose.
His love and affection to his wife and children are eternal monuments for the younger generation to follow.
We have nothing but the best regards & highest respect to him. May he be reincarnated as a new link to the Golden Chain of Messmer Dynasty.
While we regret very much for not being able to attend the funeral, we wish to convey our deepest sympathy to the members of the bereaved family.
Sincerely - Ananda & Karuna de Silva. 22 Spencer Avenue, Cloyne Ontario Canada. K0H 1K0
We will always cherish the fond memories of Leonard. Know that we are thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers.
We wish we were not so far away so that we could be there in person. Take care.
Darrell & Marlene Messmer
Missoula, Montana
Our Thoughts and prayers are with you all. We will miss him.
I'm so sorry for you loss. I'll miss Uncle Leonard. My thoughts and prayers to go out to the entire family. Love you guys.
Jackie