Charles Joseph Messersmith

Charles Joseph Messersmith, 87, of Rockford passed away surrounded by his family on March 21, 2009 in Rockford Memorial Hospital. Born June 1, 1921 in Humphrey, Nebraska, the son of Levi A. and Catherine (Biedinger) Messersmith. On June 2, 1942 he married Mary Jane Imhoff in Rockford. Charles was a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Charles was a member of St. Bernadette Catholic Church. God was most important in his life, and he greatly loved his family and his country.   Survivors include his wife, daughters Shirley Messersmith and Carol Lynn (Carter) Colby. Sons Thomas O. (Anna) Messersmith and James C. (Terri) Messersmith. Grandchildren Lindsay Colby, Travis Colby, Claire Messersmith, Robert Messersmith and Heidi Johnson. Sisters Florence Galley, Josephine Bothe, brother Bernard L. (Eleanor) Messersmith and numerous loving nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents, son Timothy, daughter Mary and brothers Robert, Daniel and Eugene and sister Theresa George. The family would like to give special thanks to the emergency and ICU nurses at Rockford Memorial Hospital, and the nurses and aids at St. Anne Center. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave., Rockford, IL 61103. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 24, 2009 from 5-7 p.m. in Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Ave. with a rosary to be recited at 6:45 p.m. Visitation will continue at 9 a.m. until time of Mass Wednesday in the church. Interment to follow in Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. Bernadette Catholic Church. To