Dee E Messinger

Dee Messinger, age 102, passed away peacefully in his sleep December 14, 2024 in Boise Idaho. Dee was born December 5, 1922 on the family farm south of McCook, Nebraska, to Edwin and Frieda Marie (nee Ruby). He graduated from Danbury High School in 1940 and enrolled at the University of Nebraska studying Electrical Engineering.

Dee met Lois Walker while at the University of Nebraska, and enlisted in the Navy in 1942, entering active service in 1943. He trained in South Bend Indiana, and was commissioned May 31, 1944, marrying Lois the same day.

Dee served in World War II as a Naval mine disposal diver on board the USS Minah (AMC-204), sailing to Japan after the atomic bombs. Lois worked as a commercial artist in Lincoln while Dee was deployed. After leaving the service in 1946, Dee and Lois returned to Lincoln where Dee graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1948 with his Electrical Engineering degree.

Dee and Lois lived for a time in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Dee worked in television design for Philco. When Dee’s father Ed decided to retire from farming in 1949, they returned to McCook to take over the farm and start a family. Chris was born in 1949, Steve in 1955 and Julie in 1957.

Dee grew dryland wheat and milo, and also fed cattle on the farm. After the drought in 1956, he went to work as a hydraulic engineer at the Bureau of Reclamation in addition to farming. He won awards for applying soil conservation practices in his farming. He retired from the Bureau in 1984 but continued farming until 1989. He then retired from farming, sold the farm house and equipment and moved to his father’s old home in McCook, leasing out the farm land.

In retirement, Dee and Lois travelled, played golf, and enjoyed square dancing and reading. Dee was also active in the First Congregational Church in McCook. Dee and Lois moved from the old home in McCook to the Brookdale senior residence in 2013, and Lois passed away later that year. In 2019, Dee moved to the MorningStar senior residence in Boise, where he resided until his death.

Dee is survived by children Christine Loshbaugh, Steve Messinger and Julie Jursinic and their spouses Rick, Sheryl and Paul. He is also survived by grandchildren Barbara Loshbaugh Hickey and husband Ryan, Brian Messinger and wife Mary Sue, Lisa Messinger Irish and husband Jackson, Sarah Messinger, Aaron Messinger and wife Meredith, Anna Jursinic, and seven great-grandchildren.

We would like to thank the staff of Brookdale and MorningStar residences and Keystone Hospice for the wonderful care they provided Dee during his final years. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite church or charity in Dee’s name.