Leonard F. "Buster" Messersmith, 89, of North Platte, died May 13, 2006, at St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center in Lincoln. He was born on Sept. 19, 1916, in Orafino, to Lloyd and Achsa Ommert Messersmith.

He grew up in Stockville and graduated class valedictorian from Stockville High School in 1934. He volunteered for duty in the U.S. Army in WWII and served in the Aleutian Islands.

On May 2, 1944, Leonard married Pauline Ealy in Oberlin, Kan. The couple made their home in North Platte, where he was a meat cutter for Sixth Street Grocery Store. He later became a supervisor at Central Nebraska Packing. Mr. Messersmith was a member of the Foursquare Church and the Flatlanders Car Club. He was an excellent husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family loved him very much. He was generous with his love, his affection and time for family and friends. He was an avid hunter and especially enjoyed restoring, showing and collecting old cars. He was very active in retirement and found a second career in his 70’s and 80’s finding, purchasing and maintaining rental properties.

Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Kazuko Messersmith of Lincoln; two sons, Marion (Mary "Cricket") of Los Alamos, N.M., and Allan (Penny) of North Platte; two sisters, Leah Tarrell (Ben) of Weiser, Idaho and Laura Barry of Lincoln; a sister-in-law, Eileen Messersmith of Cambridge; a brother-in-law, Rex (Donna) Ealy of Moorefield; nine grandchildren, Christine (Mark) Smith of Pittsburgh, Pa., Scott (Michelle) Messersmith of Columbus, Shawn Messersmith of Las Vegas, Steve Messersmith of Las Vegas, Peter (Jen) Messersmith of Chicago, Eric (Suzanne Hunt) Messersmith of Grand Junction, Colo., Gregg (Michelle) Messersmith of North Platte, Alexandra Messersmith of North Platte, and Dylan Messersmith of North Platte; eleven great-grandchildren, Katie, Zeb, Natalie, Benson, Kody, Caden, Easton, Cyrrus, Brenna, Reagan and Luke. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Achsa; his wife, Pauline in 2003; a son, Francis in 1980; a brother, Eugene; and a sister, LaVerna.

Services will be at the Foursquare Church in North Platte. Burial will be in the Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens with military honors graveside.

North Platte Telegraph