Hessenius, Patricia Mae Messmore

Patricia Mae Messmore Hessenius, 83, died Sunday, April 8, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, following an extended illness. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 12, at the Presbyterian Church in Vinton with Pastor Fred Darbonne officiating. Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Patricia, known to family and friends as “Pat,” was born March 18, 1929, in Vinton, to Jim and Grace (Hoke) Messmore and graduated from the Lincoln High School in Vinton in 1948.

On Sept. 3, 1950, she was united in marriage to Delmer H. Hessenius at her parents' home in Vinton. He preceded her in death on June 4, 2004.

Pat was employed for six years as a telephone operator for Northwest Bell and she retired in 1951. In addition to being a member of the Presbyterian Church in Vinton, Pat was also a charter member of the American Legion Unit #57 of Vinton.

She was the devoted and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother to Jim (Shareen) Hessenius of Shellsburg, Mike (Sally) Hessenius of Norway, and Ron (Julie) Hessenius of Vinton; to her grandchildren, Jennifer (Jim) Rake, David (Brenda) Hessenius, Chelsea Hessenius, Jacob Hessenius, Colton Hessenius, Lisa (Matt) Gogel, Jason (Susan) Reuter and Dane Reuter; and to her great-grandchildren, Josh and Jace Rake, Jack and Olivia Gogel and Natalie and Mitchell Reuter.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law, Mardean and Verne Hepker, and her brother and sister-in-law, Loren and Floy Messmore.

Condolences may be left at .

Published in The Gazette April 10, 2012.