MESSLER, Irene Katherine 1916-2000

MONTOUR, SUDDENDORF, MESSLER, CHASE, SWALE, LEARN, MONTOUR

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 8/26/2010 at 19:50:36

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000

Irene Messler

Irene Messler, 84, of Postville died Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at the Good Samaritan Center in Postville.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m., in the Community Presbyterian Church in Postville, with the Rev. Gary Catterson officiating.

Dorene Larson was the organist and Karla Johnson was the soloist.

Casket bearers were Steven Messler, Scott Messler, William Harnack, Sean Purvis, Eric Peters and John Nelson.

Honorary casket bearers were Ryan Swale, Michael Messler, Mauri Salpor, Cliff J. Olson, James Farmer, Alden "Jim" Nuehring and Eldred Nuehring.

The Schutte Funeral and Cremation Service of Postville was in charge of arrangements. Burial was at the Postville Cemetery.

Irene Katherine (Suddendorf) Messler was born Oct. 12, 1916, on a farm in Monona Township of Clayton County, near Monona, the daughter of Arthur and Martha (Montour) Suddendorf.

She was baptized April 28, 1917, and confirmed Oct. 5, 1930. Irene attended the Evergreen Grove School near her home and graduated from Monona High School.

On Oct. 17, 1941, she was married to Jack Aaron Messler in the Evangelical United Brethren Church at Monona. To this union seven children were born.

The family farmed south of Monona and then moved to a farm south of Postville, in Grand Meadow Township near Gunder.

They had purchased their present home at 464 West Williams Street in Postville in 1973.

Irene helped with farm work as well as putting in a garden and did canning to feed her growing family. She enjoyed handwork such as crocheting and quilting. She made a special quilt for each of her children and grandchildren, as well as making each one a crocheted doily. She liked making crafts.

The family often came home for special occasions, for which Irene would make her "sweet dressing" and her holiday fruit cake, which each one received in a small, foil-wrapped package.

Irene enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church and the women of the Church and a past member of the Prosperous Ridge Club.

Survivors include her husband, Jack of Postville; seven children, Wayne and Karen Messler of Boone, Arthur and Jacque Messler of Clermont, Delores Chase of Prairie du Chien, Wis., Harold and Diane Messler of Eastman, Wis., LeRoy and Becky Messler of Decorah, Marilyn Swale of West Union, and Joan and Charles Learn of West Union; two brothers, Eugene and Maxine Suddendorf of Postville, and Robert and Rita Messler of Rochester, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, Mardella Suddendorf of Monona.

Sixteen grandchildren survive: Carrie (Messler) Purvis, Melanie (Messler) Peters, Steven Messler, Anne (Messler) Salpor, Vicki Messler, Scott Messler, Susan (Harnack) Schwietert, William Harnack; Michael Messler, Laurie Messler, Emily (Messler) Nelson, Tina Messler, Ryan Swale, Amy Learn, Andrea Learn and Sarah Learn.

Eleven great-grandchildren survive: Katelyn Purvis, Jessica Salpor, Jada Goodwin, Schuyler Messler, Ryan Roth, Chase Harnack, Cody Schwietert, Anna Marie DuCharme, Brendon Messler, Robert Nelson and Victoria Nelson.

There also are two cousins: Donnie Montour and wife Joyce of McGregor, and Harvey Montour of Prairie du Chien, Wis.

Irene Messier was preceded in death by her parents; three grandchildren, Wendy Swale, Bradley Messler and Aaron Messler; and a brother, Kenneth Suddendorf.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.