Jeanette Kay Messer

Jeanette Kay Messer, 79, of Altoona, Iowa, passed away on February 7th, 2026 at Valley View Village. Jeanette, the daughter of Raymond and Edna (Hamann) Bumann, was born on June 27th, 1946 at Battle Creek Hospital in Battle Creek, Iowa. She was the youngest of eleven brothers and sisters who grew up on a farm in Ida Grove. She graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1964.

Jeanette moved to Des Moines, Iowa and became a hairdresser at a salon inside of Yonkers department store. On a blind date she met Richard L. Messer, eventually becoming husband and wife in 1972. She became a stepmother to Lori and Kelly and then in 1974 had a son Mathew. She moved to Altoona in 1980 and worked as a bookkeeper alongside Richard at their Phillips 66 gas station. Later she worked at Adventureland Inn as a housekeeper later becoming manager of housekeeping before retiring. Jeanette enjoyed spending time with family, playing with her cats and dogs, baking delicious treats, playing scrabble and not caring how she used the letter “s”, and playing the slot machines at Prairie Meadows.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Messer; infant son, Aaron William Messer; brothers, Earl Bumann, Alvin Bumann, Edward Bumann, and Ray Jr. Bumann; sisters, Mildred (Bumann) Fleenor, Delores (Bumann) Linn, and Edna Mae (Bumann) Phillips; brothers-in-law, James Fleenor, Del Linn, Tom Phillips, Ed Skinner and Roger Clausen; and sister-in-law, Shirley Bumann.

Jeanette is survived by her son, Mathew Messer; daughters, Lori (Ken) Russell and Kelly (Bob) Buechler; grandchildren, Jessica (Shawn), Jordan (Jordyn), Sierra (Eric), Sydney (Creighton); great-grandchildren, Blake, Brooklyn, Bryce, and Gianna; sisters, Lois Skinner and Carol Clausen; brother, Roger Bumann; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street S.W. in Altoona. Burial to follow at Altoona Cemetery, 5201 NE 80th Street in Altoona.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa in loving memory of Jeanette Messer.

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