Obituary: Leroy C. Messersmith

Leroy C. Messersmith, age 64, died July 20, 2017. He was born an identical twin on April 21, 1953 to Irvin and Velda (Schwark) Messersmith in Escanaba, Michigan. Living on a dairy farm in the UP, he learned to work hard and squeeze in playing hard.

In 1973, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Burtnett, and they made Sturgeon Bay their home for 40 years. He worked many years at PBI shipyard and rode his bike 2½ miles to work and back almost year round. Becoming his own boss, he was a maintenance man for many families and businesses throughout Door County. Seemingly everywhere at once, Leroy was frequently seen in his van crisscrossing the county as he pursued multiple projects that were always in the works. He had the ability to build, weld, and repair just about anything.

He enjoyed many hobbies and passions and highest on the list were frequent camping trips and nine canoe trips in the Boundary Waters. Also on the list of his favorites were swimming, downhill skiing, basketball, and softball. He walked his dog every day and if the snow was too deep, he put on his snowshoes. Leroy always had the gift of gab. He knew all the neighbors and they all knew him. He loved to crack a joke just to relieve a tense situation.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two children, Micky (Richard) Wilde, Jesse (Gladys) Messersmith; two grandboys, Mason and Carter Wilde; four brothers, Keith (Colleen), Clair, Gailyn (Valerie), Leslie (Nancy); sister, Darlene (Howard) Walden; two brothers-in-law, Eugene (Paula) Burtnett, Bruce (Lisa) Burtnett; and mother-in-law, Ardella Walls.

A funeral service was held July 25, 2017 at the Sturgeon Bay Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 6121 Gordon Rd. Burial will be in the Seventh-Day Adventist Cemetery in Champion, Brown County.

Huehns Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Sturgeon Bay is assisting with arrangements. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Leroy may be shared with his family at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.