Jonathon "Jonny" Raymond Messing

Jonathon Raymond “Jonny” Messing passed away peacefully at home early Friday morning, July 19, 2019 surrounded by family and friends. 

Jonny was born on July 11, 1973 in Bad Axe, Michigan to Bernadette (Wodwaski) Messing and the late Vincent Messing Sr. In 2006 Jonny met his loving wife Karen at a wedding.

Jonny was raised as the youngest of 11 children on a bustling family farm, ensuring his life was shaped by faith, the love of family, and farming. Jonny attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Ruth, Michigan and graduated from Ubly High School. He drove a grader full time for the Huron County Road Commission. His true passion was farming. He farmed with family and the Meissner family before starting to farm on his own. It was in his blood to work his land and tend a farm, and he had a true love of the life. Jonny was a parishioner of Holy Apostles Parish, Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Ruth where he served as an usher and was a member of the Ruth Knights of Columbus Council #3823. He spent his free time watching westerns, taking scenic drives, and had begun learning to cook. He enjoyed tractor pulls with his brothers and truly loved all things tractor related.

Jonny was a great conversationalist who lit up the room. He offered an easy smile and a firm handshake to everyone he met. His smile was well known and he made so many friends with his kindness and warm spirit. Jonny was truly a friend who would do anything to help if needed. Living life to the fullest as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend, Jonny lived for his family, speaking with pride and joy about each of his children. Living a life centered on faith and family while growing up guided Jonny to cherish those things every day of his life.  He will always remain a bright light of hope and determination for all those he knew and loved. 

Jonny is survived and will be missed by his loving family, wife Karen; four children, Griffin, Kennedy, Bristol, and Landon; his mother, Bernadette Messing of Minden City; nine brothers, Vincent Jr. of Minden City, Chris (Dorothy) of Minden City, Neil (Diane) of Elkton, Stan (Laurie) of Cass City, Leo (Tanya) of Ubly, Andrew of Minden City, Ambrose (Madonna) of Ruth, Thomas (Brandy) of Parisville, and Gregory of Minden City; one sister Julie Ann (John) Stapleton of Deckerville; mother-in-law Marge (Ron) Halifax of Harbor Beach, sisters-in-law Deanna (Adam) Sutherland of Bad Axe, Sarah (Doug) Volmering of Harbor Beach, and brothers-in-law, Daryl, Matt and Keith Ford of Harbor Beach; numerous nieces and nephews; grandfather-in-law Orville Braun of Harbor Beach. 

He is preceded in death by his sister Mary and his father-in-law Kenneth.

Mass of Christian burial will be 11:00 am, Tuesday, July 23 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Holy Apostles Parish in Ruth. Rev. Theodore Nnabugo will officiate. Jonny’s final resting place will be in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Cemetery in Ruth.

Visitation will be at the Smigielski Funeral Home in Minden City on Monday from 12:00 noon -8:00 pm and Tuesday from 10:00-10:45 am at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. There will be a joint rosary Monday evening at 7 pm by the Ruth Knights of Columbus and the Sts. Peter & Paul Ushers.

Memorial donations can be directed to Jonny’s family, care of his loving wife, Karen.