Cecelia Messer

Cecelia M. Messer, age 79 of Sauk Centre, died Wednesday, November 24, 2004 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 29 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider will officiate with interment following in St. Stephen Cemetery, St. Stephen.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 8 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. St. Theresa's Mission Group will pray at 4:30 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5:15 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Cecelia Messer was born August 29, 1925 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to J.P. and Elizabeth (Minette) Winter. She taught in rural schools near Sauk Centre before her marriage to Bernard Messer on July 22, 1947 at St. Paul's Catholic Church. The couple resided in St. Cloud until 1958 when they moved to a farm near St. Stephen. In 1984 Cecelia moved to Sauk Centre, where she was a foster grandparent for many years at Sauk Centre Elementary School. She was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, St. Theresa's Mission Group, which she served as president for many years, East Ashley Ladies Club and American Legion Auxiliary of St. Stephen.Cecelia enjoyed crafts, sewing and quilting and was known for her bread baking and apple pies.

Survivors include seven children, Karen (Tom) Brouns of Osakis, Janice Watters of Minneapolis, Philip (Wanda) Messer of Killeen, Texas, Dale Messer of Olathe, Kansas, Lois (Steven) Thesing and Mary (Curt) Orth, all of St. Cloud and Rose (Mark) Bankers of Baxter; 20 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Theresa Winter of Sauk Centre.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bernard Messer on August 23, 1975; grandson, Patrick Orth; son-in-law, Dick Watters; daughter-in-law, Ruth Messer; sisters, Margaret Winter, Eleanor Walter and Estella Bosl; brothers, Julius, Raymond, Victor and Oswald Winter.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jonathon Thesing, Rick Watters, David Brouns, Landon Steinhaus, Nick Bosl and Kevin Winter. Cross bearer will be Brennan Orth, scripture bearer will be Christopher Bankers and angel bearer will be Jacob Bankers. Honorary bearers will be the East Ashley Ladies Club.