Reverend Alvin F. Messersmith

Messersmith, Reverend Alvin Frederick Reverend Alvin Messersmith, one of God�s greatest shepherds was born April 19th, 1922 in Buffalo, New York. He took is first breath in heaven on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 in Rio Rancho, NM. He will be met with �Job well done, good and faithful servant.� He met the love of his life Catherine Marie Yarger at Wagner College and they married on August 24, 1946, at St. John Lutheran Church, New York. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine; his father, Frederick B. Messersmith; his mother, Elizabeth C. (Rickhold) Messersmith; his sister, Shirley M. (Messersmith) Myers. He is survived by his brother-in-law, Ted Myers; nephew, Theodore (Deborah) Myers and their sons, Nicolas and Lucas; nieces, Nancy Jackson and Judith Myers; cousin, Paul (Janice) Rickhold; niece, Roberta (Delmas) Luedke; niece, Diane Cattran (Thomas Fletcher); niece, Doris Hossalla (Lee Hamblen); nephews, Larry (Adele) Cattran, Roleen Cattran, Fred Cattran; sister-in-law, Helen (Marion) Stalter; nephew, Fredrick D. (Kathy) Yarger and their daughters, Bethany and Mary; nephew, Peter (Marissa) Yarger; niece, Marcia Yarger; nephew, Tom (Marilyn} Yarger; and longtime friends, Alma Dell from Kingston, New York, Ruth and Clifford Smith, David and Debra McClellan; many great nieces and nephews. The Reverend graduated from Seneca Vocational High School with a focus on Broadcasting and Electronics. He attended Wagner College in Staten Island New York, where he majored in Philosophy. After graduation the Reverend began studies at Gettysburg Seminary and he graduated from the seminary on February 22, 1946. He was ordained into the ministry of the Lutheran Church of America at Christ Lutheran Church in Buffalo New York on March 3, 1946. He was a lifelong Lutheran and was confirmed on April 14, 1935. Most recently he was a member of Community of Joy Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM since 1988. Throughout his tenure in the ministry he served the congregations at St. John Lutheran Church in rural Manorton area of Columbia County, New York from 1946-1951, where his remains will be buried; The Lutheran Church of Peace in Rochester, New York from 1951-1955; St. Paul Lutheran Church in West Camp, New York from 1955-1971; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kingston, New York from 1971 until his retirement in September 1988. He received a service award from the Rural Churches of America while at St. Paul Lutheran Church in 1965. He enjoyed photography and traveling with his wife to the Holy Land, many countries, and many of our 50 states. He will be missed and was loved by his many church friends and families from New York and New Mexico. Thank you to the caretakers and directors of New Mexico Health Care Systems Corporation-Private Residential Assisted Living. We are grateful that Alvin called NMHCS �his home�. We honor and thank the wonderful people from Heritage Nursing and Hospice Care, Decades LLC, his pastor, Michael Bastian and his church family at Community of Joy Lutheran Church; friends, Randall and Mary Pierce family, Jerry and Judy Pekarek, the Roberts family,Robin Learn, Jean Pratschner, Scott Peterson and Stephanie Belmore. A Celebration of Life will be held at 5:00 pm, Sunday, September 7, 2014, with Pastor Michael Bastian officiating, at Community of Joy Lutheran Church, 841 Saratoga Drive NE, Rio Rancho, NM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Community of Joy Lutheran Church Building Fund, 841 Saratoga Drive NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144 or by calling 505-896-2543. Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-892-9920