Messner, Joseph D.

Joseph D. Messner

Joseph D. Messner, 91, of Cedar Rapids, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, at the Hiawatha Care Center. Memorial Services: 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, where his family will greet friends after 1 p.m. Inurnment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Jeanne; his son, Mark Messner of Cedar Rapids; his daughter, Dianne (Charles) Lytz of Chestertown, N.Y.; and his grandchildren, Brian Lytz, David Lytz, Tara Messner, Paige (Scott) Dirksen and Keith Messner.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Jeanne Konold; a niece, Juanita McIntosh; and sisters-in-law, Carole Weckesser and Patricia Harke.

Joseph was born May 6, 1922, in New York City, N.Y., the son of Joseph and Cecelia (Mathy) Messner. He married Jeanne Weckesser on May 3, 1947, at St. Patrick Church in Jersey City, N.J. Joe graduated from the High School of Music and Art, New York City, then spent two years at the J. Albert Cavanagh School of Lettering and Design and two years studying oil painting in Los Angeles.

Joe was an advertising art director and watercolorist, his creative advertising career placing him in California and New York City. He retired from CMF & Z in Cedar Rapids.

Notably, Joe was the founder of the Iowa Watercolor Society (1977). He studied with nationally known watercolorists and enjoyed a long and creative side career as a distinguished watercolor painter and mentor. He had a love of nature and a visual appreciation of all his surroundings.

Please leave a message for the family on the Web page www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hall-Perrine Cancer Center at 701 10th St. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403.

Published Nov. 6, 2013 in The Gazette