Rob Messer

1956 - 2018

Rob Messer

Clive - Robin Howard Messer, 61, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at Mercy West Lakes Medical Center surrounded by his wife, family and loved ones.

Rob was born April 27, 1956, to Miriam Jane (Lamm) and Howard Leonard Messer in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. He reminisced about a carefree, joyous childhood even though he was born with a serious heart condition and had open-heart surgery at the age of five. Once restrictions were lifted, he played sports, however he knew from the early age of 12 that his real love was music. He spent his teens playing in a high school rock-n-roll band and also spent time working alongside his dad gaining skill and expertise in preparing cuts of meat and other various tasks at their family-owned business.

Rob was an accomplished musician. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and took classes at Iowa Wesleyan University. He then transferred to the University of Iowa where he received a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Music Performance. He loved his college years and spent a lifetime telling stories about great times with his friends.

After graduating, he moved to Des Moines, Iowa. Throughout his musical career, he played with various local, regional and commercial bands, musicians and entertainers. He taught drums and percussion in a unique way, was featured on several recordings with local and regional musicians, and was a gifted composer of music. Aside from music, Rob was the General Manager of Sunset Foods, Inc. in West Des Moines for nearly twenty years.

In 1986 he met Mia Osterson through mutual friends. They were married on October 20, 1990 and he shared his life with her until his passing. Together they enjoyed travel and vacation planning, cooking, entertaining, visiting family, going to movies, and hammock time. They have three cats, one named after a favorite jazz drummer, Elvin Jones.

Rob was a supporter of the U.S. National Parks Service, and they visited over one-half of the U.S. parks, monuments, etc. thoroughly exploring and enjoying them. Avid travelers, highlights included Machu Picchu, Peru; the Great Wall of China; cruising across the Atlantic; Tikal and Yelapa, Mexico; Lake Superior; the Black Hills/Custer State Park/Badlands; the Outer Banks of North Carolina, the Oregon coast and the Anza Borrego area.

Rob also loved to read, get together with lifelong friends, listen to Avant-guard jazz and Joe Cocker. He would have loved to give all of his money to charity and helped anyone in need.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard; sister, Sandy and brother, Steve. He is survived by his loving wife, Mia; mother, Miriam (Doug) Smith of Florida Beach Shores, Florida; sister Pam (Gregg) Nevens and children Joe, Wonde and Martha of Los Angeles, California; and brother, Ted and children Jennie and Jake of Salt Lake City, Utah.

He is remembered as a loving husband, son and brother; a valued friend and special soul. Rob's faith, family and friends were gifts that he held close to his heart. He goes in peace, knowing he did right with his time on this earth.

A special thank you to Tom and Sally Reavely for their love and support and to Angela Mayne from Wesley Life for her outstanding care and compassion in the last months of his life.

The family will receive friends from 5 - 7 p.m. Thursday, February 8, at Westover Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family in care of Westover Funeral Home.