Philip Howard Messamer, of rural Russell, Iowa, died peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning, September 20, 2015, at the family farm, aged 94 years, 10 months, and 16 days. His son Jerry and daughter-in-law Carol and son Tom were with him when he passed. He had been in declining health for some time.
Philip was born November 4, 1920 to T.R. and Beulah (Zellers) Messamer, in Dallas County, Iowa, the 9th of 14 children, of whom 10 survived to adulthood.
He grew up in Dallas County, except for a year in Osceola. He spent a year working in Alaska during Word War II. With money saved from that work, he bought 80 acres in Washington Township in Dallas County and began farming. He graduated from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, IL and became an electrician working many years for Fitz Electric of Dallas Center.
On June 27, 1947 he married Phyllis Marie Cotten at the Panther Creek Church of the Brethren in Dallas County. Her parents were Dudley and Lucy (Ellis) Cotten also of Dallas County. Phyllis died in 1997 just a few months before their 50th wedding anniversary.
Five children were born to Philip and Phyllis in Dallas County. In 1956 they bought a larger farm in Lucas County, and moved there that spring. The 3 youngest children were born while there. In the late ‘80s they moved back to Dallas County, and lived in Adel until Phyllis died. Philip then moved back to the farm in Lucas County. He was a farmer/electrician for most of his life.
He and Phyllis attended Panther Creek Church of the Brethren in rural Adel, of which he was a birthright member, and Rapids Street Baptist Church in Adel, when they lived in Dallas County. They attended Bethel EUB Church in rural Russell and Church of the Nazarene in Knoxville, when they lived in Lucas County.
He is preceded in death by his parents, 11 brothers and sisters, his wife, a great-granddaughter, and 5 nephews and nieces.
He is survived by his 8 children - Steven (Donald Beck) of Michigan City, Indiana, Nicholas (Karen) of Oskaloosa, Timothy (Julia) of Burlington, Jerry (Carol) living at the family farm, William (Kristen) of rural Russell, Cynthia (Thomas) Phillips of rural Lacona, Thomas (Colleen) of Independence Kentucky, and Rebecca of Des Moines; a sister Jessie Blomquist of Greenfield; a brother Charles of Avon, Indiana; sisters-in-law Norma Hubbard of Adel, Bernadine Cotten of Altoona, Naomi Chandler of Lucas, Mary (Ted) Coppock of Des Moines, & brother-in-law Dean (Donna) Cotten of Dexter; 17 grandchildren - Gina (Alex) Nielsen, Marcus Messamer, Jason Messamer, Margaret (Daniel) Rigg, Sarah (Joshua) Broward, Elizabeth (Michael) Palmer, Abygail Messamer, Theresa Messamer, Lucas (Erikah) Messamer, Leah Messamer, Candace (Brian) Hatch, Nicole Messamer, Charles (Kelly) Phillips, Troy (Rachel) Phillips, Chad Rekers, Amber Messamer, & Nathan (Dani) Sheibley; 16 great-grandchildren - Emma & John David Broward, Elliana & Henry Palmer, Liam Messamer, Mason, Jaxson, & Lucille Hatch, Mary (Leo) Galey, Ben Alfred, & Amelia Phillips, Ariela, Kiya, Thomas, & Trenton Phillips, Nathan Sheibley, Jr.; cousins Grace Gilmer of Adel, Donna Heiny of Modesto CA, and Robert Messamer of Phoenix AZ; 41 nephews and nieces, and many other relatives and friends.
He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather who taught us not to sweat the small stuff, to accept people for who they are, to help others and not expect anything in return, the meaning of hard work, and that nothing is more important than family. He will be greatly missed.
A Lunch will be held after services in Adel at the Panther Creek Church. Memorials may be directed to the Panther Creek Cemetery
[S5] Find A Grave, → Memorial ID 152673597.
1920 - 2015 (94 years)
Siblings
. Steven Roy MESSAMER, b. Abt 1948 (Age 76 years)
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