Larry A. Messer

Larry was born August 24, 1952 in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Leonard and Carol (Thomson) Messer. He was a graduate of Shellsburg High School. After graduation, Larry attended and graduated from William Penn University and University of Northern Iowa. He received a bachelor’s degree in education and specialized in social studies. Larry took the time to enjoy the outdoors. He loved hunting, fishing and taking long drives to discover various historical sites. Most of all, Larry cherished the walks he took with his wife and the time he spent with his children. Larry died on March 11, 2007, at his home after a two year battle with a brain tumor. He was 54. On June 28, 1974 he was united in marriage with Becki Tumilty, and the couple was blessed with three children, Benjamin, Thomas and Katie. The family made their home in Winterset, where Larry was a teacher at the Winterset Junior High. He was an inspiring educator for 29 years, teaching 8th grade social studies. Larry was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Winterset, where he had served as a Deacon. He was also a junior high coach for various sports including: basketball, volleyball, cross-country and baseball. Larry was a Junior High Honor Club Sponsor, as well as, a current member of the Professional Educators of Iowa. Visitation: He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Vernon and Dorothy Tumilty and a brother, Brent Messer. Service: 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 16, 2007 at First Baptist Church, Winterset Memorial: Survivors include his wife, Becki of Winterset; their two sons, Benjamin (Adrienne) Messer of Winterset and Thomas Messer (Kelly Maifield) of Raymond; their daughter, Katie (Cody) Sullivan of Winterset; a special grandson who is due in July; sisters, Kathleen (John) McLaughlin of Williams Bay, WI and Lorraine Messer (Roy Grace) of Oskaloosa; a brother, Mark (Jeanette) Messer of Mason City; a step mother-in-law, Marlene Tumilty of Shellsburg; sisters-in-law; Vicki (Gary) White of Surprise, AZ, Lori (Roy) Gongwer of Carlisle and Jodi (Brian) Thomas of Glendale, AZ; a brother-in-law, Tim Tumilty of Shellsburg; step sisters-in-law; Lisa (Glen) Bleeker of Boulder, CO and Gina (Wayne) McClintock of Charles City; several aunts; and many nieces and nephews.