Raymond A. Messmer, 97, of Rock Island, passed away Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, Mo.  His wife of 74 years, Ruby "Maxine" Messmer was by his side.

Funeral services are 10 am Wednesday at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island.  Burial is at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented by Moline American Legion Post 246.  Visitation is 4 to 6 pm Tuesday at the funeral Home.  Memorials may be made to Amvets.org.

Raymond was born July 11, 1920 in Burlington, Iowa, a son of Herbert and Anna Leicht Messmer.  He married Ruby Maxine Gidel on May 3, 1944 in Rock Island.

Ray retired from the Rock Island Arsenal, where he had worked for 35 years.

He was a WW II U.S. Army veteran.  Ray was a member of Moline American Legion Post 246, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees and the N.R.A.  He enjoyed shooting at the gun range and watching the Cubs and the Bears.  Ray coached Little League, Babe Ruth and Connie Mack baseball teams in Rock Island.  He was known for his humor and love of people.  He will be missed by the many who loved him.

Survivors include his wife, Maxine; son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Linda Messmer, Springfield, Mo.; daughter-in-law, Betsy Messmer, Bettendorf; granddaughters and their husbands, Laura and Jeff O'Hair, Christi and Brian Lowrance, Tammy and Sean Chastain, and Danielle and Matt Phippen; grandson and his wife, Kyle and Libby Messmer; and 15 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Messmer; and brothers, Phillip and Bernard Messmer.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.