Gerald “Jerry” E. Messmer, 85, of Jasper, passed away at 1:19 p.m. on Sunday, January 30, 2022, at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper.
Jerry was born in Ferdinand, on June 15, 1936, to Joe and Francis (Hedinger) Messmer. He married Linda M. Westfall on August 20, 1960.
Jerry was a 1954 graduate of Jasper High School after attending both Huntingburg and St. Ferdinand high schools.
He served three years in the United States Army including service in Korea.
He founded Messmer Mechanical in 1970 where he worked for over 40 years.
Jerry was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church. He was a founding member of the South-Central Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors Association serving as president and secretary. He was a past president of the Board of Directors of the State IAPHCC. He was also a member of VFW Post No. 673.
He enjoyed the 42 years of the Messmer family tradition of Christmas caroling with musical instruments (he played the tambourine). He enjoyed weekday morning coffee with friends at Headquarters which came to be known as “The Table of Knowledge.” He enjoyed playing cards, gardening, golf, traveling, and spending time with family.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Linda Messmer, Jasper; three sons, Ed (Rita), Mark (Kim), and Roger (Mary Jo) Messmer, all of Jasper; two daughters; Carla (Paul) Schuch, Kentwood MI and Pam Freyberger, Jasper;15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and four sisters, Carol Stedfeld, Therese Paulin, Jean Hefner and Sister Mary Carol Messmer, OSB.
Preceding him in death were five sisters, Clara Boekman, Sister Mary Gerald, OSB, Dorothy Helming, Mary Ann Corley and Roberta Weyer; three brothers, Pete Messmer and two brothers who died in infancy, Joseph and Thomas Mesmer.
A Mass of Christian burial for Gerald “Jerry” E. Messmer will be held at 11 a.m. EST on Saturday, February 5, in Holy Family Catholic Church in Jasper, with entombment to follow in Fairview Cemetery Mausoleum in Jasper. VFW Post No. 673 will conduct military graveside rites.
A visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the 11 a.m. EST service time at the church on Saturday, February 5.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church or to a favorite charity. Online condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.
