A politician, athlete, businessman and most importantly a friend and family member, Ivan Messmer leaves a lasting legacy that continues to touch many lives.
There were as many laughs shared as there were tears when family and friends recounted the life of the beloved former Penticton Mayor at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church on March 14.
Messmer, who died on March 8 at the age of 83, was born in 1931 in Barrhead, Alta. Having never left Alberta, or even been on a plane, he was drafted to play baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirate’s farm team.
Cindy Lewthwaite, Messmer’s daughter, said during the service that he shared many stories about his time travelling through the southern U.S. playing baseball.
Once, while walking with his teammates, he stepped into the curb to let a woman pass. He was scolded by his teammates because the woman was black, they told him “that’s no lady.”
“Until the day he died, our dad always stepped into the curb for a lady,” Lewthwaite said.
“He gave us everything but an easy act to follow.”
Messmer acted as a role model through the generations leaving a lasting impact on his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“He challenged me to be a better person my whole life. Most kids growing up had a poster of Michael Jordan hanging in their rooms and I had a picture of grandpa playing baseball,” said Matt Strohmann, one of Messmer’s grandsons.
Strohmann said his four-year-old son called Messmer a “great man” and that he left the best presents under the Christmas tree.
After playing baseball, Messmer returned to Canada, taking on many jobs including becoming the youngest grain buyer for the Alberta Pacific Grain Company. He also worked with a small-town lawyer handling the real estate division. The firm took over a construction company with 14 projects underway and Messmer took over as manager. He would eventually own the company.
He and his family moved to Penticton in 1967. It was here he started getting involved in politics. He became an alderman in 1975 and eventually took over as mayor of Penticton in 1980. He would remain mayor for six years.
Between 1975 and 1991 Messmer was a city councillor, mayor, MLA, Minister of Parks and Solicitor General.
Family friend and political colleague Nancy McDonnell spoke of Messmer’s political history at the service.
“Today I believe we all sit on the same side of the aisle and we’re here to give our respects to Ivan,” McDonnell said. “Did you know Ivan dined with the Queen of England? He did.”
She recalled how few people were around to watch Ivan shoot a rifle on the beach at the first Iron Man competition, compared to the thousands that visit the event, now called Challenge Penticton, today.
“Ivan always felt that public consultation, service and volunteerism were the backbone of any community and Penticton certainly has its share of volunteerism,” McDonnell said.
She said Messmer loved participating in parades and festivals throughout the Okanagan, and it was his opportunity to get out and speak with the people.
“These were his finest moments,” McDonnell said. “Ivan would always wave enthusiastically to detractors and supporters alike with his usual ‘Good morning, thanks for coming, how are you?’
“Ivan was a doer, a go-getter and a man with an overabundance of integrity and common sense. I will always call him my boss and my friend and will always miss him.”
Friend of Messmer, Roy Phillips, was the last to speak at the service.
“I was very proud to be asked to say a few words today. He was a man, who was not only my friend, but who cared about all people,” Phillips said.
Phillips added that Ivan would bring him a cup of coffee every day during his morning walk. One morning, Phillips was joined on his walk by his grandson. When Ivan came to give him his cup of coffee, not expecting Roy’s grandson to be there, he gave away his cup.
“I said where’s your coffee? He said ‘I’m coffee’d out today,’ That’s the kind of guy he was,” Phillips said.
Through the list of achievements and accomplishments, and the legacy he leaves behind, the consensus was clear that Messmer was regarded as a friend, family member and an all-around humanitarian.
