Lois L. Messinger

Lois L. Messinger passed away November 9, 2013 at McCook Community Hospital. She was born May 8, 1922 in rural Clatonia, Nebraska, to Kathryn (Williams) and Nelson Walker. Art was always a passion for Lois, but being from a Clatonia farm, there was no art education available. After graduation from Clatonia High School she pursued education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She received her Bachelor of Art degree in 1943, and later received a scholarship to study at the Chicago Art Institute.

Lois met Dee Messinger while at the University of Nebraska, and they were married May 31, 1944 in South Bend, Indiana where he was in naval officer training. Lois worked as a commercial artist in Lincoln while Dee was deployed during the war. After Dee completed school following the war, they lived for a period in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before returning to his home town of McCook to take over Dee's family farm.

After starting a family in McCook, Lois became active in the McCook Art Guild, working in watercolor, acrylics and pastels. She produced many works showing rural Nebraska scenes and also served the community, designing posters, drawings, murals, stage scenery and logos for various community organizations. Her designs were used a number of years for commemorative plates by the McCook Heritage Days.

Lois was a long-time member of First Congregational Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nelson and Kathryn Walker; her sister, Carlin Rhea and Dee's brother-in-law, Willard Rouze.

She is survived by her husband Dee; brothers, Don and Norman Walker and their wives, Miriam and Marilyn; sister-in-law, Ava Rouze; children, Christine Loshbaugh, Steve Messinger and Julie Jursinic and their spouses Rick, Sheryl and Paul. She is also survived by grandchildren Barbara Loshbaugh, Brian Messinger and wife Mary Sue, Lisa Messinger Irish and husband Jackson, Sarah Messinger, and Aaron Messinger and wife Meredith, and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the First Congregational Church. There will be no visitation or viewing.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 12, at the First Congregational Church in McCook, 212 East E Street, with a private family inurnment. Pastor Steve Bales will be officiating.