Rae Messerschmidt

Rae Messerschmidt, 88, died Sunday evening, October 11, 2015 at her home of 64 years, surrounded by family, following a four year battle with cancer.



Rae was born November 5, 1926 in Kempsey, New South Wales, Australia, the oldest of five children of the late Claude William Russell and Sophia Amelia (Rowsell) Turner.



She attended school in Kempsey. During World War II, she chanced to meet a young sailor, John Messerschmidt. From that meeting, Rae came to Bucyrus on May 8, 1947 where she and John were married on June 1 in his mother’s living room on East Southern Avenue. They were together 55 years until John’s death in 2002.



Rae was an active member of the Bucyrus congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses and shared her faith regularly with others in the community. She was an avid gardener and reader and enjoyed knitting and travelling, making five trips back to Australia over the years. She was also an early member of the War Brides Club of Bucyrus.



Surviving are her son, Daniel (Sherry) Messerschmidt and daughter, Christine (Jerry) Nelson, both of Bucyrus; her sister, Estelle (Rod) Matheson of Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia; three grandsons, Zachary (Sarah Garrett) Messerschmidt of Bucyrus, Thad (Stacey) Nelson of Mechanicsburg and Levi Nelson of Columbus; and great grandchildren, Maci Messerschmidt, Isabella Nelson, Addison Reinschell and Dylan Goff.



In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Janice Roberts and Jill Pepperell and brother, George Turner, all of Australia.



Rae’s family will receive visitors on Tuesday, October 13 from 5-8 pm at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus where the funeral will be held Wednesday at 11:00 am with Minister Lawrence Jarka officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.



The family suggests making memorial contributions to Homecare Matters Hospice or the Bucyrus Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses through the funeral home and memories are encouraged below.