Gladys P. Messerly

Gladys Pearl Messerly, 90, of Waterloo, Iowa, died Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at Allen Memorial Hospital, Waterloo. She was born July 25, 1922 in Rock Falls, Iowa, the daughter of Lloyd and Bethel (Douglas) Kellogg. Gladys married Alfred Christiansen, Jr. in 1945. They later divorced in 1968. She married Robert F. Messerly on May 22, 1982. He preceded her in death on October 8, 2006. Gladys graduated from Mason City High School in 1939 and worked at several secretarial jobs, retiring in 1984 from Kirk Gross Company, after twelve years of employment. She was a member of Janesville United Methodist Church, Shamrock Rebekah Lodge in Janesville and the Janesville American Legion Auxiliary. Survivors include two sons, Marc J. (Beth) Christiansen of Wagram, North Carolina and Barr A. (Rose) Christiansen of Jesup, Iowa; two daughters, Julie Ann (Lee) Toomsen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Janalee (Dr. Douglas) Held of St. Louis, Missouri; two step sons, Richard (Dr. Melissa) Messerly of Minot, North Dakota and Dr. James (Dr. Susan) Messerly of Birnamwood, Wisconsin; a step daughter, Janet Gilliam of Spokane, Washington; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Jonathan) McRae, Angela Toomsen, Richard (Jessica) Toomsen, Tamara (Michael) Leahy, Gregory Held, Rebecca Collins, Chad Christiansen and Kari (Douglas) Bergman; ten step grandchildren, Anna (Kelly) Williams, Nicole (Shawn) Sinele, Kathryn (Peter) Streit, Jennifer Gilliam, Jayme Gilliam, Matthew Messerly, Johanna Messerly, Paul Messerly, Kaisa Messerly and Abraham Moilan; eight great grandchildren, Kaylea Jo Federspiel, Kennedy Collins, Levi Toomsen, Reese Toomsen, Eli McRae, Owen McRae, Ayden Bergman and Easton Bergman; two step great grandchildren, Taylor Sinele and Benjamin Sinele, and a sister, Elizabeth Raila, of Norwalk, Connecticut. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents and husband; two sisters, Marjorie Ambroson and Ruth Workman; a niece, Linda Seikunas, and a step son-in-law, Jay Gilliam. Services will be 2:00 pm Friday, January 11, 2013, at Janesville United Methodist Church in Janesville, with inurnment at Finchford Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be 47:00 pm Thursday at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, and one hour before service at the church. Memorials may be directed to the church or Ridgeway Place. Condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com. Her love was pure and mighty, and enough to hold each of us until we see her again.