John A. Messer, of Billings, died early Friday morning Feb. 10, 2012 having been surrounded by his family. John wrote about his life...."was born in a farmhouse several miles south of Bridger, Mont., on Sept. 26, 1922, the sixth of nine children. Shortly thereafter the family moved into Bridger for three years and then moved to a farm north of Belfry. John attended Golden School and Tucker School and then Belfry. After Belfry, there was a year at Lodge Grass. John then spent a year in the CCCs (Civilian Conservation Corps) in Glacier Park at Belton, Mont. A short time later he became employed at the Northern Pacific car shops in Laurel, Mont. He was drafted into the army and took anti-aircraft HOMM basic training in Fort Bliss, Texas in 1944. He was sent overseas into the Mediterranean Theater of Operation in North Africa, Southern France and Italy, returning to the US after World War II and honorably discharged. John tried various jobs until entering the Billings Postal Service in 1948 and retiring in 1980. John met Cecelia Ann Lutgen at the St Patrick's Church Patrician Club and they were married in January 1949. He spent his retirement gardening, traveling, playing and recording music, visiting children and grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents Andrew and Magdalena (Schwan) Messer; sisters Eva, Elizabeth, Mary, Delores; brothers Nick, Peter, Eugene, and Albert; and grandson Kirk Thornburg. He is survived by his wife Cecelia; daughters Gloria (Doug) Iams, Sharon Thornburg, Donna (Gene) Holden, and Cynthia (Don) Epperson; sons Gary (Sharon Lynn) Messer and Gregory Messer; grandchildren Michael (Maria) Iams, Emily (Dax) Simek, Sarah Iams, Misty Thornburg, Hannah (Adam) Porcella, Benjamin Holden, Rebekah (Jeremy) Carlson, Jonathan Messer, Jason (Melissa) Messer, Stephanie Messer, Chelsea Messer, Joseph Epperson, Anna Epperson, and Luke Epperson; and great grandchildren Mia Iams, Andrew Iams, Trask Thornburg, Collin Messer, and Georgia Simek"
We add:
John was a quiet, unassuming man with a quick wit and sense of humor. He was a hard worker and a self-taught jack-of-all-trades. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and his gardens produced an abundant harvest yearly that he always shared with family, friends and neighbors. This continued even through to this last season. If his children or grandchildren complained that their work was too hard, he would remind them that theirs was not nearly as tough as his work as a child hired to hoe beets in the beet fields in the hot Montana summer sun. He was a past commander and lifetime member of the VFW as well as a member of the American Legion. As a soldier he remembered the rough Atlantic Ocean voyage when he was shipped overseas - his very first view of the ocean. He had been a member of Holy Rosary and St. Thomas Parish. He provided for all six of his children to have a Christian education. He enjoyed good waltz and polka music, and he and his wife Cecelia danced through 63 years of marriage.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hansen Cottage at St. John's and the staff at Riverstone Hospice for their kind and compassionate care in his last months.
He was loved by many and will be sorely missed. Dad, we will dance with you again on the other side.
Rite of Committal will follow the reception at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Laurel, with military honors.
We add:
John was a quiet, unassuming man with a quick wit and sense of humor. He was a hard worker and a self-taught jack-of-all-trades. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and his gardens produced an abundant harvest yearly that he always shared with family, friends and neighbors. This continued even through to this last season. If his children or grandchildren complained that their work was too hard, he would remind them that theirs was not nearly as tough as his work as a child hired to hoe beets in the beet fields in the hot Montana summer sun. He was a past commander and lifetime member of the VFW as well as a member of the American Legion. As a soldier he remembered the rough Atlantic Ocean voyage when he was shipped overseas - his very first view of the ocean. He had been a member of Holy Rosary and St. Thomas Parish. He provided for all six of his children to have a Christian education. He enjoyed good waltz and polka music, and he and his wife Cecelia danced through 63 years of marriage.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hansen Cottage at St. John's and the staff at Riverstone Hospice for their kind and compassionate care in his last months.
He was loved by many and will be sorely missed. Dad, we will dance with you again on the other side.
Rite of Committal will follow the reception at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Laurel, with military honors.
John A. Messer, of Billings, died early Friday morning Feb. 10, 2012 having been surrounded by his family. John wrote about his life...."was born in a farmhouse several miles south of Bridger, Mont., on Sept. 26, 1922, the sixth of nine children. Shortly thereafter the family moved into Bridger for three years and then moved to a farm north of Belfry. John attended Golden School and Tucker School and then Belfry. After Belfry, there was a year at Lodge Grass. John then spent a year in the CCCs (Civilian Conservation Corps) in Glacier Park at Belton, Mont. A short time later he became employed at the Northern Pacific car shops in Laurel, Mont. He was drafted into the army and took anti-aircraft HOMM basic training in Fort Bliss, Texas in 1944. He was sent overseas into the Mediterranean Theater of Operation in North Africa, Southern France and Italy, returning to the US after World War II and honorably discharged. John tried various jobs until entering the Billings Postal Service in 1948 and retiring in 1980. John met Cecelia Ann Lutgen at the St Patrick's Church Patrician Club and they were married in January 1949. He spent his retirement gardening, traveling, playing and recording music, visiting children and grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents Andrew and Magdalena (Schwan) Messer; sisters Eva, Elizabeth, Mary, Delores; brothers Nick, Peter, Eugene, and Albert; and grandson Kirk Thornburg. He is survived by his wife Cecelia; daughters Gloria (Doug) Iams, Sharon Thornburg, Donna (Gene) Holden, and Cynthia (Don) Epperson; sons Gary (Sharon Lynn) Messer and Gregory Messer; grandchildren Michael (Maria) Iams, Emily (Dax) Simek, Sarah Iams, Misty Thornburg, Hannah (Adam) Porcella, Benjamin Holden, Rebekah (Jeremy) Carlson, Jonathan Messer, Jason (Melissa) Messer, Stephanie Messer, Chelsea Messer, Joseph Epperson, Anna Epperson, and Luke Epperson; and great grandchildren Mia Iams, Andrew Iams, Trask Thornburg, Collin Messer, and Georgia Simek"
We add:
John was a quiet, unassuming man with a quick wit and sense of humor. He was a hard worker and a self-taught jack-of-all-trades. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and his gardens produced an abundant harvest yearly that he always shared with family, friends and neighbors. This continued even through to this last season. If his children or grandchildren complained that their work was too hard, he would remind them that theirs was not nearly as tough as his work as a child hired to hoe beets in the beet fields in the hot Montana summer sun. He was a past commander and lifetime member of the VFW as well as a member of the American Legion. As a soldier he remembered the rough Atlantic Ocean voyage when he was shipped overseas - his very first view of the ocean. He had been a member of Holy Rosary and St. Thomas Parish. He provided for all six of his children to have a Christian education. He enjoyed good waltz and polka music, and he and his wife Cecelia danced through 63 years of marriage.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hansen Cottage at St. John's and the staff at Riverstone Hospice for their kind and compassionate care in his last months.
He was loved by many and will be sorely missed. Dad, we will dance with you again on the other side.
Rite of Committal will follow the reception at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Laurel, with military honors.
We add:
John was a quiet, unassuming man with a quick wit and sense of humor. He was a hard worker and a self-taught jack-of-all-trades. He enjoyed vegetable gardening and his gardens produced an abundant harvest yearly that he always shared with family, friends and neighbors. This continued even through to this last season. If his children or grandchildren complained that their work was too hard, he would remind them that theirs was not nearly as tough as his work as a child hired to hoe beets in the beet fields in the hot Montana summer sun. He was a past commander and lifetime member of the VFW as well as a member of the American Legion. As a soldier he remembered the rough Atlantic Ocean voyage when he was shipped overseas - his very first view of the ocean. He had been a member of Holy Rosary and St. Thomas Parish. He provided for all six of his children to have a Christian education. He enjoyed good waltz and polka music, and he and his wife Cecelia danced through 63 years of marriage.
The family would like to thank the staff of Hansen Cottage at St. John's and the staff at Riverstone Hospice for their kind and compassionate care in his last months.
He was loved by many and will be sorely missed. Dad, we will dance with you again on the other side.
Rite of Committal will follow the reception at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in Laurel, with military honors.
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