KELSO -- Josephine Mary Messmer, 94, died June 25, 2012, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center in Cape Girardeau.
Born June 1, 1918, in Chaffee, to the late Joseph Andrew and Bertha Theresa Seyer Himmelsbach, she was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso, St. Anne's Sodality, Kelso Senior Citizens, VFW Post 6407 Ladies Auxiliary and a volunteer at Saint Francis Medical Center.
On Aug. 23, 1941, at Chaffee, she married Leon Joseph Messmer, who preceded her in death on Oct. 9, 1955.
She was also preceded in death by: one brother, Francis Himmelsbach; one sister, Doretta Schoen; and an infant brother and sister.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Walter and Carol Messmer of Benton and Michael Messmer of Dallas, Texas; two daughters and sons-in-law, Marilyn and Morris Welsh of Jackson and Diana and Robert Westrich of Kelso; three sisters, Rosemary Sander of Cape Girardeau, Lorene Kinman of Decatur, Texas, and Virginia Compass of South Bend, Ind.; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Visitation is from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, with parish prayers at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Kelso. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with the Rev. Oliver Clavin serving as celebrant.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent at: www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.