MESSERSMITH, Albena "Bea" (Floriano) 1923-2016
MESSERSMITH, FLORIANO, SAVORD
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 6/6/2016 at 10:32:02
Bea Messersmith
September 28, 2016 - June 4, 2016
Longtime resident of Riceville, Iowa, Bea (Floriano) Messersmith, went home to our Lord on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center.
Bea was born Albena Floriano on September 28, 1923, to John and Anna Savord Floriano in Menominee, Michigan. She graduated from Kingsford High School in Kingsford, Michigan. Following graduation, she moved to Chicago where she worked as a telephone operator during World War II. While in Chicago she met Merritt Messersmith who was serving in the Navy. In February 1944 she traveled by train to San Diego, California, where she and Merritt were married at the St. Joseph's Cathedral in San Diego.
In 1945, their first daughter, Karen (Merlyn Zahasky) was born and in 1947 daughter Gail (James Morris) was born.
In 1957, she and Merritt purchased the Riceville Recorder newspaper in Riceville, Iowa. She worked side by side with her husband at the Recorder managing the subscriptions and mailing of the newspaper. She also wrote a weekly column "Buzzin's by Bea".
She was a member of the Rosary Society at the Immaculate Conception Church in Riceville and on the Board of Directors of the Riceville Care Center. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for 60 years. She and Merritt were members of the Iowa Press Association.
She was a loving grandmother to three granddaughters (Julie, Suzanne and Monica Zahasky) and two grandsons (Tim and Andy Morris) and their spouses. A great-grandmother to six great-granddaughters: Emma, Elizabeth, and Mallory Morris (Tim) and Mackenzie Morris (Andy), Sedona Dietrich (Julie) and Rose Morse (Suzanne) and two great-grandsons: Ben Morse (Suzanne) and Nathan Dietrich (Julie).
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Merritt, two brothers and three sisters.
She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and will be missed by all those who loved her.
The family wishes to "thank" the staff at Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center for the wonderful and loving care they gave to Bea.
Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home websie
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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