Vernida Joyce (Michels) Messing passed away on Sunday, September 3, 2023, at the age of 85. Vernida was born to Walter George Michels and Dorothy (Zweifel) Michels on November 27, 1937, in Fairbury, Nebraska. She was the younger of two daughters born in the family. Vernida was raised on a farm between Hebron and Alexandria. She graduated from Alexandria High School in 1955 and later Fairbury Junior College. Vernida taught in the Alexandria School system. She worked at Hesteds Store, and the Elks Club in Fairbury, Nebraska. Vernida is remembered as a great cook, and she loved cooking for the Gilead Grade School children for many years.

Vernida married Lester Messing on June 30th , 1957. This union was blessed with three sons, Terry, Bruce, and Scott. Vernida helped Lester with farming and running his repair shop. She also served for many years as Clerk for the Village of Gilead. One of her proudest achievements while serving the Village of Gilead was to help acquire grants for Gilead’s sewer system and street paving. Vernida enjoyed raising a huge garden every year. She loved raising her crops, canning, freezing, and cooking! Throughout the years, she also enjoyed many camping and fishing outings with Lester and her children. (She is remembered by her grandchildren as being a peppy and spunky lady who enjoyed their company.)

Vernida was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Dorothy Michels of Alexandria, NE; father and mother-in-law, August and Margaret (Eisenhauer) Messing of Gilead, NE; sister, Jeanne (Michels) Kerwood and brother-in-law, Kenneth Kerwood of Bruning, NE; and grandson, Ryan Messing of Wichita, KS. She is survived by her husband, Lester Messing of Omaha, sons Terry (Carolyn) Messing of Wichita, KS; Bruce (Elizabeth) Messing of Hebron, NE; Scott (Mary) Messing of Omaha, NE. Grandchildren Christopher Messing (Madison) of Indianapolis, IN; Cory Dankenbring (Sarah) of Lincoln, NE; Brooke Fowler (Dustin) of Hebron, NE; Sean Clark of Omaha, NE. Great Grandchildren Braxton Messing, Kyler Dankenbring, Nolan Dankenbring, Grace Fowler, Joanna Fowler, and Claire Fowler. Vernida also leaves behind many beloved relatives, nieces, nephews, cousins, and treasured friends.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, September 16th, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church, 2310 “H” Street, Fairbury, Nebraska.  Visitation will be held Friday September 15th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Fairbury Cemetery.  Memorials will go to the family’s choice. Condolences, trumpmemorials.com.  Trump Funeral Services, 1600 W. “O” Street, Lincoln.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelations 21:4