Roger Ray Messerly

ROGER MESSERLY

Marion

Roger Ray Messerly, 86, of Marion, died Tuesday, March 27, 2018, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A visitation will be held Monday, April 2, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home.

Roger was born June 24, 1931, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Roger L. Messerly and Verda F. (Fifield) Messerly. Roger served his country in the United States Navy during

the Korean War. He was stationed in Japan for two years followed by two years in San Diego, Calif., and obtained the rank of Store Keeper 3rd Class.

Roger attended all three Iowa universities and obtained his master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Roger first worked as the high school art teacher and then became an elementary school principal for Marion Independent Schools at Longfellow and Emerson. He continued his career as elementary principal at Bowman Woods, Linn-Mar, for 23 years. He traveled to Germany to evaluate elementary schools on military bases.

Roger married LaVonn Musfelt in Traer, Iowa, in 1953, and they enjoyed 64 years together.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Marion and was a member of the American Legion Post 298.

Roger was awarded C.R. Jaycees Boss of the Year in 1986 and Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1991.

He loved, more than anything, his family, golfing, flower gardening and shelling on Sanibel Island.

Roger is survived by his wife, LaVonn Messerly; two daughters, Dana Capouch and Gayl (Tom) Lippert; five grandchildren, Eric, Anna, Kyle, Shelby and Jared; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister.

Memorials may be directed to the family in memory of Roger.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.