Bernard D. “Bernie” Messmer, age 83, of Jasper

Bernard D. “Bernie” Messmer, age 83, of Jasper, Indiana, passed away surrounded by family at 9:58 p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2023, in Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper, Indiana. 

Bernie was born in Huntingburg, Indiana, on March 3, 1939, to Clem and Viola (Woerter) Messmer.  He married Sharon Sturm on November 24, 1973, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana. 

He was a 1957 graduate of Huntingburg High School. 

He was a United States Navy Veteran, who was stationed at Pearl Harbor. 

He was an electronics technician at Crane Naval Base for 35 years.  After retirement in 1995, he has been co-owner of Sturm’s Hardware with his wife Sharon. 

He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, the Navy Club Ship #90, Jasper K of C, YMI, Jasper Outdoor REC, the American Legion Post #147, and a past member of the Jasper Gun Club. 

Bernie enjoyed spending time outdoors, boating, fishing, hunting, shooting, photography, horticulture and tending to his house plants, and spending time with family and friends. 

Surviving are his wife Sharon Messmer, Jasper, IN, one son Jason Messmer, Jasper, IN, Nyana (Steven) Lloyd, Tulsa, OK, two grandsons, Austin and Alex, two sisters-in-law, Linda and Virginia, and several nieces and nephews. 

Preceding him in death are two sisters, Patricia Seckinger and Suzann Schiewer, and two brothers, Paul and Steve Messmer. 

A Mass of Christian Burial for Bernard D. “Bernie” Messmer will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Jasper, Indiana, with entombment to follow in the Fairview Cemetery Mausoleum in Jasper.  The American Legion Post #147 will conduct military grave site rites. 

A visitation will be held from 2:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Becher-Kluesner Downtown Chapel in Jasper, Indiana.  The Navy Club Ship #90 will conduct a ritual at 6:00 p.m. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Capital Campaign or to the St. Meinrad Archabbey.

Condolences may be made at www.becherkluesner.com.