Carlton E. Messner's Obituary
Mr. Carlton E. Messner, age 90, passed away peacefully at his home on Election Day, 2003. Born on Christmas Day, 1912, to Edward Messner and Bertha Sonn, Carl was proud of his German heritage. Carl was raised in Fremont, Michigan and his wonderful brother Clarence died in 1979. He married Helen McCarthy of Hancock on St. Patrick’s Day, 1941 in the rectory of St. Mary’s Parish in Downtown Muskegon. They lived above Walgreen’s Drug Store on Western Avenue up until the time of the purchase of their home in Glenside where Carl lived for 62 years. They had two sons: Michael of New Paltz, NY and Tom (wife, Kathy) of Ann Arbor. Helen died of cancer in 1979. In December, 1980, Carl married Dine Bassett and she still resides in her own home in Glenside. In 1988, Carl married Pauline Hietanen and she died on cancer in the early 90’s. Carl often remarked how he hitch-hiked from Fremont to Michigan Tech in 1931 with only $120 in his pocket and he worked his way through college. He was a proud graduate of Tech in 1939 and worked his entire career with Continental Motors/Ryan/Teledyne as Assistant Chief Engineer in charge of Aircraft Development. His starting pay: seventy-five cents an hour! Mr. Messner developed many patents in his “retirement” years. Cremation has taken place. The family asks that you consider a donation to the Charity of your Choice in his name. Share memories with Carl’s family at their Online Guest Book @ www.sytsemafh.com.
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