Jerome "Curly" Messing

1936 - 2024

Jerome "Curly" Messing
Jerome "Curly" J. Messing, age 88 of Ubly, passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024.
He was born on March 22, 1936, in Harbor Beach, son of the late Roman and Clara (Kirsch) Messing. He married Judith Priemer on September 13, 1958, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ruth.
He served in the United States Army from 1955-57. Upon returning home, he worked for a short period in the automotive industry in Flint and decided to return to his roots in the thumb. Curly became a rural letter carrier and was a member of the National Rural Letter Carrier Association for 64 years. Curly was first a faithful parishioner of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ruth before moving to Ubly in 1984 and joining St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church where he served as an usher for many years.
Beyond his family, Curly's dedication was fixed in his community. He was a volunteer fireman in Ruth, holding the position of Chief for his last five years of service. Curly was a loyal member and former secretary and Grand Knight of the Ruth Knights of Columbus Council #3823. His family was given the KOC Family of the Year award for 2013-2014. Curly's love of sports was beyond the usual avid. He loved watching the Detroit Tigers play. His sports passion always remained truest with the Ubly Bearcats. It was rare that he missed a game. Curly coached basketball, football, baseball, softball and track at all levels for both Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School and Ubly Community Schools for over 40 years. He also served as the athletic director at both schools for several years and is a retired member of the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrator Association. In 1997, he received the honored title of Thumb Meet of Champions' "Thumb Friend of Youth" and in October of 2022, Curly was honored by the Ubly School for his dedication to the Ubly Bearcat Athletic Program. In 2001 he received the prestigious honor of being enshrined in the Michigan High School Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame. Curly was a registered athletic official for 47 years. He and his wife, Judy were the Grand Marshalls for the 2012 Ubly Homecoming Parade.
Curly loved to travel with his family and friends. He made it to 49 of the 50 states, always making sure to stop at any stadium he came across. He even made it to attend both the summer and winter Olympics. Curly loved to golf, especially with his sons and grandsons.
Curly is survived by his wife of 66 years, Judith Messing of Ubly; children, Timothy (Teresa) Messing, Terry (Carmen) Messing, Sue Messing, Kimberly (Alger) Lemke, Kerry (Sarah) Messing; son-in-law, Ernie Klee; grandchildren: Brian (Ashley) Klee, Evan (Alissa) Klee, Gabe Messing, Sylvia (Nicholas) Foeckler, Georgie (Stephen) Bertotti, John (Mary Margaret) Messing, Martin Messing, Joe (Grace) Messing, Michael, Mary, Timothy, and Peter Messing, Rachael (Daniel) Baker, Leah (Jeremy) Ruthko, David Messing, Shelby (Nathan) Trepkowski, Logan and Ethan Lemke, Luke, Jack, Abigail Messing; great grandchildren: Myla and Macie Klee, Roman, Cythia, Otto, and Katherine Klee, Bella and Richard Bertotti, and Lucy Trepkowski; siblings: Mary June Eidenberger, Richard (Jane) Messing, Estelle (Duke) Wagg, Elaine (Eugene "Yogi") Mazure, Erma (Marvin) Cook, Margie (Robert) Susalla, Janet (Jim) Thomas; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Margie Messing, Jake Cleary, Shirley Messing, Jean Kramer, Cheryl Hill, Luann (Calvin) O'Berski.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Catherine Klee, siblings Edward, Herbert and Allen Messing, Joann Cleary; sisters in law Sheila and Phyllis Messing, Karen Gornowicz brothers-in-law, Robert Eidenberger, Dan Kramer, Jim Hill.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at St. John Catholic Church, Good Shepherd Parish in Ubly. Rev. Nate Harburg, pastor, will officiate. Curly will be laid to rest in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Kaufman Funeral Home in Bad Axe on Thursday, January 2, 2025, from 3 – 8 pm, Friday January 3, 2025 from 11 am-8 pm and Saturday at the church from 10 - 11 am.
The Knights of Columbus Council #3823 will recite a rosary on Thursday at 4 pm at the funeral home.
Please consider directing donations for the family's choice of charity to Curly's daughter, Kimberly Lemke.
Please visit www.kaufmanfuneralhome.com to express your sympathy,