Irene Messenger

Irene E. Messenger, age 73 years of Niles, Michigan died Saturday morning, April 18, 2015 at her home unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

She was born on November 25, 1941 in Goshen, Indiana to Job and Nora Mae (Billow) Whirledge, and was graduated from Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana. She earned the Licensed Practical Nurse certification, and served many years as an LPN in the Post Surgery Unit of the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland Hospital) in Niles.

Irene was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles. As a young nurse, she served in a mission project to the Navajo tribe in New Mexico. As a young mother, she volunteered as an adult leader to the Cub Scouts. She and her family always enjoyed camping throughout the region with their travel trailer, and made a return trip with their sons to New Mexico – via Florida. Irene will always be remembered for her welcoming nature, whether at home, at Cub Scouts, at church, or in her travel trailer kitchen at the campground, everyone was graciously accepted.

On May 14, 1971 at the Church of the Brethren in Middlebury she married Richard D. Messenger with whom she celebrated last year the forty-third anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Richard Messenger and their sons, Richard Messenger and Keith (& Valerie) Messenger, both of Niles; grandchildren Naomi Stevenson, Elizabeth Stevenson, and Eric Messenger; Irene’s sister, Margaret Rigelman of Montgomery, Michigan and brothers Olan Zigler of Bryan, Ohio and Clarence Whirledge of Middlebury; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by eight siblings, Anna, Roy, Kate, George, Glen, Martha, Dale, and Mary Frances.

The funeral service for Irene Messenger will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Jim Wing of the Church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Irene may be made to the First Baptist Church.

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