Stephen Eugene Messersmith

Stephen E. Messersmith, resident of Hastings, Nebraska, passed away on Friday, April 20, 2018, at age 69. Steve was born on July 8, 1948 in Lexington, NE. He attended Cambridge High School and graduated in 1967, after which he served in the United States Airforce for four years. He married Renee J. Neseth in Cambridge, NE on August 2, 1985.

Steve was well-known and loved throughout the community. He worked for Metz Baking Co. for many years before starting his own distribution business in 2000. He ran a successful business distributing bread and snack cakes to grocery stores, convenience stores, and restaurants throughout Hastings and the surrounding communities. Everywhere he went Steve made friends; he had the ability to start a conversation with anyone, and he always saw the best in others. Steve was not only the life of the party, he made life a party! He was always 'all-in' with whatever he did. The Messersmith Family had a tradition of having 'family breakfast' frequently. Sometimes Steve could stretch a two hour breakfast into a three hour breakfast, and then into lunch through laughter and conversation. A gathering at the Messersmith house lasted hours later than it should have. Steve lived a life worth living! He had a contagious laugh and sense of humor, and he was always sharing his favorite music with the ones he loved, especially his favorite musician, Jerry Jeff Walker. Steve's loveable personality extended to his love for holidays and holiday decorating - holiday lights were his favorite, especially in October.

In 2016, Steve unfortunately lost his sight. His tremendous grit and work ethic, were proven to be outweighed by his optimism and resiliency. He had the opportunity to attend the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center in Chicago and participate in a program that taught him how to navigate his new world independently. His coaches were more than impressed at the progress he made. Where some might get stuck in what was lost, Steve made the most of what he'd been given.

eve loved listening to music, books on tape, and news programs, working on projects, planning vacations, but most of all he loved spending time with his family. Nothing made him smile bigger or laugh harder than being with his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Eileen and Eugene Messersmith, and sister Mary Jo.

He is survived by his wife Renee, sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Gary Shearer, and 6 children and 8 grand children:

Terry, Nicole, & Quinn Burton of Omaha, NE

Shawn, Kitty, Joseph, Anna, and Samuel Burton of Omaha, NE

Dawn, Miles, and Ava Burton of Denver, CO

Kaylee, Luis, and Henry Ayala of Omaha, NE

Jordon, Meggan, and Stevie Kae of Lexington, NE

Joshua Messersmith of Hastings, NE

The family requests memorials to be collected on behalf of the Central Blind Rehabilitation Center at the Hines VA Hospital in Chicago and The Village Diner in Hastings, one of Steve's favorite restaurants.

The Messersmith family would like to invite friends and family to join us in a toast and a laugh on Saturday, April 28th from 5:00 - 9:00 pm at the C3 Hotel in Hastings, NE. A burial service will be held at a later date in Cambridge, NE.