Jerome Messer

Jerome J. Messer, age 65 of Sauk Centre, died Friday, August 19, 2005 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, August 22 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Rev. Todd Schneider and Rev. Tim Wenzel will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call Sunday from 3:30 to 9 p.m. and Monday from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by Catholic Aid and Knights of Columbus at 8:30 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.

Jerome Messer was born January 12, 1940 in Madison, South Dakota to Fred and Helen (Santer) Messer. On May 19, 1964 he married Phyllis Toenyan at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa, Minnesota. In addition to helping his father on the family farm, he worked at Gamradt Construction, Fred Ostendorf Construction and Borgmann Dairy. In the late 1960's he became a mechanic at the Farmers Co-op Elevator. Jerome and Phyllis purchased the Messer family farm in 1973, while Jerome was still working as a mechanic, and in 1977 Jerome became a full-time farmer. He and his wife, Phyllis and their children were busy farming the land and milking cows until 2001. Since then Jerome had kept busy working at Dan Welle's Southtown and as the chairman of the Sauk Centre Township Board.

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, where he served as an usher for many years. He was also a member of St. Paul's Catholic Aid and the Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus.

Jerome enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, fishing and attending country music concerts, all while still taking care of the farm. Jerome is greatly loved and will be missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Messer of Sauk Centre; six children, Julie (Gerald) Woida, Pamela (Lee) Wolbeck, Jeffrey Messer and Jason (Koni) Messer, all of Sauk Centre, Joyce (David) Brinkman of Grey Eagle, and Paula (fiancé, Matthew Walter) Messer of Moorhead; 13 grandchildren, Janis, Rebecca, Stacy and Kristin Woida, Ashley, Nicole, Kayla and Austin Brinkman, Zachary, Mitchell, Adam, Evan and Ryan Wolbeck; brothers and sister, Fred Messer, Donald (Bernice) Messer and Betty (Harold "Butch") Wessel, all of Sauk Centre and Roger (Pat) Messer of New Munich.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Serving as casket bearers will be Joe, Jerry, Kevin and Tom Messer, Bob and Brian Wessel, Scott and Matthew Toenyan. Cross bearer will be Zachary Wolbeck and scripture bearer will be Janis Woida. Honorary bearers will be friends and neighbors.