Pete J. Messer

Pete J. Messer, 89, of the White Oak community, died on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at Great River Hospice House, in West Burlington.

As per his wishes, cremation has been accorded and no services will be held.

Memorials may be made to the Guegler Group Home (a division of Hope Haven) and to the Great River Hospice House in his memory, and may be mailed to the Murphy Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.murphyfuneralandmonuments.com. Murphy Funeral Home, of Mt. Pleasant, is handling the arrangements.

Messer was born on May 30, 1927, in Henry County, the son of Orville and Anna Swailes Messer. He attended the White Oak School. He was united in marriage to Joan McClure on May 25, 1949, at the parsonage of the First United Methodist Church, in Mt. Pleasant.

He was a farmer, and also worked for the Henry County Road Department, Henry County Conservation Office, and did construction work with Don Whaley and Charlie Bruggemeyer. He was also a deputy for the Henry County Sheriff?s Office.

He enjoyed fishing, the St. Louis Cardinals and traveling the western states with his family.

Messer is survived by his wife, Joan, of Mt. Pleasant; and his children, Kathy (Les) Nieland, of Mt. Pleasant, and Clarence Messer, of Burlington; and his sister, Marjorie (Serrell) Thomas, of New London.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, Dorothy Hite.