Ida Mae Messenger

Ida Mae Messenger, 93, Lena, died Sunday morning, January 21, 2018 with family present.  She was born on January 23, 1924 in Oconto to Christopher and Grace (Baldwin) Follett.  She grew up in Oconto where she attended school, graduating from Oconto High School with the class of 1942.  On June 24, 1944 she married Harry J. Messenger at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Oconto.  Following their marriage the couple lived in Little Suamico for 29 years before moving to the Town of Morgan.  Ida Mae moved to Lena in 2003 to live with family.  She was member of St. Casimir Catholic Church in Krakow.  Ida Mae has always been known as a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother who dearly loved her family, espcially their time together.  She enjoyed traveling, camping, reading, all kinds of flowers, watching the birds and deer.

Survivors are 9 of her 12 children, Sandra Fye, Green Bay; Dennis (Marianna) Messenger, Baltimore, MD; Michelle (Jerry) Everard, Green Bay; Chris Messenger, Savannah, GA; Howard (Donna) Messenger, Oconto; Diane (Tony) Kowalkowski, Lena; Kim (David) Rutten, Appleton; Mary (Rob) Messenger-Leja, Cecil; Tammy (Tim Kozloski) Messenger, Goodman; 15 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren, one great-great grandson; four sisters, Nathalie (John) Trepanier, Oconto; Audrey Smith, Oconto Falls; Marlene Cota, Oconto; Joan (Terry) Amore, Green Bay; one sister-in-law, Margaret Follett, Little Suamico.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harry, one daughter Cheryl, two sons, Patrick and Randy Messenger, three brothers, Wesley Sr., Richard and Harold Follett and one son-in-law, Myran Fye.

Visitation will be held 3-7pm Friday, January 26, 2018 at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls with a closing prayer service to follow.  Visitation will be held after 9am Saturday, January 27, 2017 at St. Casimir Catholic Church in Krakow until the time of service.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10am Saturday at the church with the Fr. James Esser, OFM officiating.  Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Little Suamico.

The Messenger family would like to thank the many caregivers who looked after Ida Mae over the years in many special ways.