Fred Messmer
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Fred Harold Messmer passed away at age 97 on October 22, 2020 at Creekside Continuing Care in Burlington, Washington. Fred was born on June 6, 1923 in Wenatchee, Washington, the son of Fred G. Messmer, a Norwegian immigrant carpenter and homesteader, and Helen C. Messmer, the one-room schoolteacher his father met on the prairies of eastern Montana.
Fred grew up in Grays Harbor, enjoying an idyllic childhood in the Finch Farms community of South Aberdeen, roaming the woods, fishing, clamming, boating, and walking log rafts and watching longshoremen work on the Chehalis River. After attending Finch Farms Grade School and St. Mary's Catholic School, Fred graduated from Aberdeen's Weatherwax High School in 1941. In high school he was the Washington state high hurdles champion, holding a record that stood for many years.
After high school, Fred apprenticed as a draftsman with Aberdeen architect Clarence W. George, building on his artistic talents and learning skills he later used to design more than 125 houses throughout Western Washington.
Fred enlisted in the Army Air Force in December 1942, serving until September of 1945 in England as a Technician Engineer designing airfields on the Continent. D-Day, June 6, 1944, was Fred's 21st birthday. Fred learned to play the accordion as a boy, and was especially proud of performing for his entire troop ship on the way home from England after World War II.
Fred married his high school sweetheart Aini Julin on June 23, 1946. After the war, he used his GI Bill benefits to study art education at Grays Harbor Community College and obtain art degrees at the University of Washington. After graduation, Fred and Aini moved to Marysville, Washington to accept a high school art teacher position. Later, he became Director of Art Education and then Director of School Plant Planning for the Everett School District, overseeing an era of rapid school construction in Everett.
After his retirement, Fred and Aini enjoyed traveling throughout the Northwest and on more than one dozen trips to Finland and Norway, where they enjoyed visiting relatives and experiencing the many examples of Scandinavian modern art and design.
Fred and Aini lived for over 40 years at Priest Point in the home which Fred designed for them, incorporating cutting-edge features such as an open floor plan and passive solar gain, as well as a kitchen uniquely suited to Aini's cooking skills.
Fred and his wife were long-time, devoted members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Marysville, Washington. He used his art and architecture skills to redesign an altar for Central Lutheran in Everett, and to remodel several other area churches. Fred loved conversation, even with complete strangers. "If you ask questions and show interest, folks will talk to you," he would say. Over their many years of church membership, he and Aini would never allow any visitor or newcomer to go home without a personal welcome and a conversation.
Throughout his life, Fred enjoyed countless hours fishing for trout and salmon in nearby sloughs, rivers and saltwater. He continued a tradition handed down from his father, smoking fish with his best friend, retired pastor Ernie Pihl. Well into their retirement, he and Aini loved to sail on their 17-foot trimaran moored at Tulalip Bay, often taking guests on afternoon trips across the sound to Langley or for clam digging on Camano Head.
To all of his friends and extended family, Fred was unfailingly warm and supportive. He opened to all of us the visual world of art and design, adding richness to our lives and teaching us to really look around us, and to value living among beauty and good design. He will be missed!
Fred is survived by his children: Cheryl (James) Bela, Dean (Marilyn) Messmer, and Kay (Doug) York; 6 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Marysville when circumstances permit. Arrangements are under the care of Kern Funeral Home of Mount Vernon.