Hannah Fern Messer (1919-2021)

MESSER, REINER

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/18/2021 at 17:25:15

Hannah Fern (Reinier) Messer, age 102, of Davenport, Iowa, formerly of Wapello, Iowa, died Friday, November 12, 2021 at home.

Celebration of life services with interment at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa will be held at a later date. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent for Fern’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com.

Hannah Fern, born August 10, 1919 in Ollie, Iowa, was the daughter of Jesse Francis and Doris (Ingle) Reinier. Her parents divorced in 1924, when Fern was a small child; Doris then married James August Buck, and the couple raised Fern and her siblings. Fern attended country school near Ainsworth, Iowa, and graduated from Washington High School. She received Normal Training during high school and taught country school until shortly after her marriage. Fern and Lester Maynard Messer were united in marriage on August 30, 1939 in Kahoka, Missouri.

Fern and Lester moved to Wapello, Iowa in 1945, where they lived most of their lives and raised three daughters. Fern attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, where she received her degree in Elementary Education. Her teaching career spanned over 20 years, starting with Kindergarten at Grandview, and then teaching fourth grade in Wapello for 12 years. Fern moved to Davenport to be with her daughter twenty years ago. She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Wapello and later St. John’s Methodist Church in Davenport. Fern was a member of P.E.O. and was involved in many church groups. She enjoyed spending time with friends, traveling, and entertaining. Fern was an avid card player and enjoyed playing well into her 90’s. She and Lester also wintered in Florida for several years.

She is survived by two daughters Linda Parish (Jerry) of Pinellas Park, Florida and Patricia Bartenhagen of Davenport, Iowa; her six grandchildren Pamm (John) Anderson, Traci Parish, Scott (Lorrie) Parish, Chuck Bartenhagen, Mike (Jennifer) Bartenhagen and Lisa Bohn; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Fern is also survived by one sister, Clarice Deevers, of Ottumwa, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lester; daughter Sandra (Jim) Reiser; two grandsons, Tony and Kevin Reiser; one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Claire Buck and Perry Reinier; two sisters, Nyla (Charles) Thrapp, Rhea (John) Logan; and an infant brother, Dwight Reinier.

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