David Messer

David G. Messer, age 90 of Sauk Centre, died peacefully May 3, 2019 at St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, May 6, 2019 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Father Greg Paffel presiding.

Visitation will be held Sunday, May 5th from 4 – 8 p.m. at Patton-Schad Funeral Home, Sauk Centre with Parish Prayers beginning shortly after 4 p.m.  Visitation will continue Monday, May 6th from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home.

David George Messer, son of Henry and Katherine (Santer) Messer was born May 20, 1928 in Osakis, Minnesota.  He attended country school, finishing after the 8th grade.  When he turned 18, he joined his father as a U.S. Marshall and had a very “accurate shot” with his Colt 45 pistol.  For five years, David was a farm hand traveling to North Dakota where he worked seasonally each year.  He then began working for Bromen Implement in Sauk Centre as a farm equipment mechanic and took a great interest in flying.   He received his pilot’s license and then became a flight trainer in the area.  A highlight of his flying was being asked to be a Civil Air Patrol for the US government; helping with this responsibility for nearly five years.  While he was courting his girlfriend, LaVerne, they would enjoy dates where they would fly around the area enjoying the scenery.  On August 27, 1957, David was united in marriage to LaVerne Catherine Bruder in Long Prairie, Minnesota.  Together, they raised their family on the farm they had purchased that year.  David was a hardworking man, holding down two full time jobs; mechanic and farmer.  Even though he was extremely busy, he and LaVerne always planned family vacations and camping trips.  He truly enjoyed being a father to his children.

David can be remembered as an avid fox and deer hunter, trapper and fisherman.  He was a CB radio operator – having lots of communication with anyone in the area.  David could be described as a friend to everyone!  He always had time to visit and to tell a joke or two no matter if his wife, LaVerne was waiting in the car.  In his later years, he occupied his time watching all the westerns on television – especially Gunsmoke and Bonanza.  He truly enjoyed listening to his record album collection of classic country music.

David was a member of Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and a former member of the NRA – National Rifle Association.

Survivors include: children, Carol (Steve) Norris of Sauk Centre, Mary (Bob) Bertrand of Sauk Centre, Barb (Jesse) Jarmuzek of Rice; Donna Messer of St. Stephen, Susan Schleppenbach of Albany and Mike (Carolyn) Messer of Sauk Centre; grandchildren, Adam, Sara, Tina, Vanessa, Jordan, Josh, Chris, Jessy, Cody, Kayla, Evan and Owen; great grandchildren, Kaylee, Serenity, Nicholas "Bubba", and Logan; brother, Henry Messer of Minneapolis; sister, Margaret Hiltner of Sauk Centre and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, LaVerne on February 21, 2018; a three-month-old daughter, Jeanette; his parents, Hank and Katherine Messer; and sisters, Louise Furlong, Marie Schluender and Catherine Schluender.