Walter Messmer

BENTON, Mo. -- Walter Leon Messmer, 77, of Benton, formerly a resident of Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019.

He was born Aug. 20, 1942, in Chaffee, Missouri, to Leon Joseph and Josephine Mary Himmelsbach Messmer. He married Patricia "Carol" Ranson on Dec. 17, 1966, at St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton.

After he married, Walter graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in social sciences and geology. He was a teacher in Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Missouri, and had previously been a machine operator at Good Humor-Breyers in Sikeston.

He was a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton. Walter served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of lieutenant and receiving the Bronze Star for Meritorious Service.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Messmer; son, Matthew Clay Messmer of Ballwin, Missouri; daughters, Sarah Beth Messmer of Benton and Rebecca Anne Nickell of Wildwood, Missouri; brother, Michael Messmer of Dallas; sisters, Diana Westrich of Kelso, Missouri, and Marilyn Welsh of Jackson; and three grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso.

A memorial Mass will follow at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14 at the church, with the Rev. Michael Casteel as celebrant. Burial, with full military honors, will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 15 at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial donations be sent to Missouri National Veterans Memorial, P.O. Box 566, Perryville, MO 63775.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.