Rev. Gerald Messman

Rev. Gerald C. Messman, age 97, of Lincoln, formerly of Duncan, Nebraska, died Friday; March 1, 2002 at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday; March 5, 2002 at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Bellwood, Nebraska with The Most Reverend Fabian W. Bruskewitz and the Very Reverend Robert A. Roh officiating. Burial will be in the St. Peter's Cemetery in rural Bellwood, Nebraska. Visitation will be Monday after 5:00 p.m. at the church in Bellwood. A rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. also at the church. Visitation will continue Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church.

Rev. Gerald C. Messman was born August 15, 1904 in Zwevegkem- West Flanders, Belgium to Frank and Emma (Vervaecke) Messman. He attended boarding school in Belgium before beginning his college education. He studied Classics at St. Umandus-Courtrai, Belgium from 1920-25. He then attended Petit Leminaire Roulers from 1925-1927 where he studied Philosophy. From 1928-31 he attended American College in Louvain, Belgium. He was ordained July 12, 1931 at the American College by Rt. Rev. Bishop J. Murray for the Diocese of Lincoln. He began serving as Assistant Pastor in Hastings, Nebraska on September 14, 1931. He then served as Pastor in Benkelman, Stratton, Cambridge, Roseland and served the mission church in Logan all in southern Nebraska. On October 30, 1949 he was appointed Pastor of St. Peters Church in Bellwood. During his tenure in Bellwood the current church was built. On September 8, 1959 he was appointed Parish Priest Consultor. Rev. Messman retired to Duncan, Nebraska on July 1, 1975. He lived in Duncan until moving to Lincoln in 2001.

He is survived by nieces and nephews.