In loving memory of Brenda Lou, born March 10, 1957 in Gardner, KS to George & Frances Rebman and raised in Wellsville, KS until her parents divorced & Frances moved to Olathe, KS. Frances married Gail Sawyer in 1967 & the family went from 3 kids to 8. Brenda gained a step sister & 4 step brothers.
Brenda attended Millbrook Jr. High and graduated from Olathe High School in 1975. While in high school Brenda got her first job at the Velvet Freeze, where she made the BEST hamburgers in all of Olathe! Circa 1974, she was hired on at TG&Y where she continued to serve the citizens of Olathe & was the location of the first conversation with a certain mail carrier that became her loving husband of 50yrs!
From the nudging of Brenda's Uncle John Wright, Sam eventually got the nerve to make a move to talk with the cute sales clerk at TG&Y. That conversation led to other conversations, a double date, the first solo date, eventually engagement then on December 10,1976 the two shared their wedding vows and Sam brought his son, Jason, into their union.
Sam was so excited but freaked out as he watched his future walk toward him that he is not able to share details of the wedding except for how twitterpated he was looking at his bride! Neither would have guessed the adventure those 2 young kids would travel over the next 50 years, especially once they welcomed their baby girl to the world in 1977 & the family became 4. Brenda was so very excited to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, she talked about it for many months.
Circa in 1987, Brenda applied to work as a lunch lady at Oregon Trail Jr High where she was hired on and loved the job so much, her co-workers but more so the students. Brenda really loved kids & she would shine the most when interacting with students that were struggling, even if not outwardly struggling, she intuitively saw the struggle, stepped in to calm & then got the students to laugh so to put that issue behind them. Brenda worked at Oregon Trail for at least 15yrs where she progressed to the role of manager. She loved her students so much that if anyone said a crossword or tried to deny a student, Mama Bear would show up!
Sam & Brenda enjoyed many decades of time spent at the baseball fields of Olathe then eventually the softball fields all over the nation as the family traveled wherever Jennifer had a tournament. From cheering on the youth in general, Jason & Jennifer specifically, to keeping score, running & staffing the concession stands... Baseball was life for this Messer family. Friends would joke that Brenda spent so much time at the ball fields that Jennifer was born there, probably the sand pit beside Prairie Center #1. To clear the air, Jennifer was indeed born at Olathe Community Hospital, but as soon as mom & daughter were released, you know they were at the fields!
If Brenda was not at the baseball field, then you could almost guarantee she had a project in hand. Brenda enjoyed her many crafts and was not afraid to try something new, just to spend time with the people she cared about. She mastered counted cross-stitch, loved making her own patterns and many of you reading this probably have at least one of her creations. Brenda's creativity was endless! She did not keep that creativity to herself; she loved to share herself with all those around her!
Brenda had such a big heart, ready smile and loved deeply. Psalm 23:6 (NASB95) "Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." As this verse perfectly reflects Brenda, goodness & lovingkindness not just followed her, but it poured out of her onto everyone she met. Brenda knew no stranger. Everywhere she went there was always someone she knew & a conversation would ensue because a passing "hello" was never enough.
Brenda is preceded in death by her father George Rebman, father-in-law Lewis Messer, mother-in-law Helen Messer, uncle John Wright, aunt Kay Wright, step brothers Jim & Bruce Sawyer, brother-in-law Gary Collins, brother-in-law Robert Messer and Great nephew Sawyer "The Fierce" Davidson.
Brenda is survived by her loving husband Sam Messer, mother Frances Sawyer, step father Gail Sawyer, step son Jason Messer, daughter Jennifer Leen (Brett), sister Linda Collins, brother Gene Rebman, step sister Helen (Michael), step brother Jack Sawyer (Debbie), step brother David Sawyer. Brother-in-law Lynn Messer (Teri), sister-in-law Brenda Messer, granddaughter Helaina Messer and grandson Levi Messer. Brenda had many nieces, nephews & cousins that she loved deeply and spoke of fondly.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating in Brenda's name to the Olathe American Legion Post #153, Olathe Hospice House, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society
