Theodore Joseph Mesmer, “Joe,” was born in Sutherland, Nebraska in 1934. When his mother passed in 1941, his father married his second grade teacher Anne Ulrichson who continued to raise the family. One of his favorite childhood memories was being with his Uncle Hans Schmalzried who was a projectionist for both the North Platte Keith Theatre and the Paramount Theatre. He would be in the projection booth and help Uncle Hans change the reels. In so doing, he watched many, many hours of movies. He graduated North Platte High School in 1952 and attended University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he graduated with a bachelor’s in business management. He was also the president of the SAE Fraternity. It was at college he met and married Clare Hinman Mesmer in 1956, also from North Platte. They moved back home, where he managed two laundromats and four full service gas stations. He also was a member of the National Guard. In 1964, Joe attended training in Memphis and returned to North Platte to manage the new North Platte Holiday Inn. On May 10th, 1965, the North Platte Holiday Inn opened serving travelers from US Highways 83, 30, and the newly finished I-80. His spirit flowed through the hotel; guests were cared for and safe, as were his employees. Along with being a successful Innkeeper, he also was a NebraskaLand Days Board Member from 1974-1978 and hosted many artists and events at the hotel and out at his family boat house at Lake Maloney. He was also a president of the Ambassadors and a past board member of the Chamber of Commerce. Both he and Clare welcomed Elizabeth, John, and Helen-Ann to complete their family.
In 1979, Joe was given the opportunity to partly own and become the Innkeeper at the Gallup, New Mexico Holiday Inn. He led his family on many educational adventures throughout the Southwest. In 1983, the family moved to Taos, New Mexico, as he became the on-site Manager at the Holiday Inn of Taos. It was here the family built a home in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. He loved Pot Creek and unwinding with the trout stream just below the house. He took the family to Hawaii and flew over a volcano and ate fresh pineapple, and to New Orleans where he introduced the family to Jazz at Preservation Hall in 1984. He piloted his family’s boat through Lake Powell at its fullest capacity. He proudly took Clare to other cities like Chicago, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Cancun.
His next adventure in life was more difficult, but he persevered. The family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1985. He was a realtor of HUD homes and adjusted to the Arizona dry heat very well. When life seemed heavy, he was comforted by bicycling and loving the family’s two Miniature Schnauzers. He was their caretaker from beginning to end. Somewhat stubborn, he attempted his first and last “Century Ride” on his bike, in August, during the day. He rode 25 miles east, and 25 miles back. He then rode the same 25 miles east again and completed 24 miles back. However, on the final mile- mile 99-as he stopped at a 7-11, his tire exploded and Clare picked him up.
He cheered on his family as best he could: his first grandchild, Megan, arrived in 1989, and a new sparkle entered his smile. His second grandchild Zander arrived in 2005 and became his snack and cartoon-watching buddy. In 2008, he welcomed Nastia as his third grandchild and was proud of her becoming a United States citizen. He drove the family every Christmas back to Nebraska and no one could best his road trip abilities. He always got the family safely to and from their destinations, and helped all passengers become well aware of the AM radio static becoming clearer as they neared Denver. Road trips were also punctuated by him spotting wildlife and pointing it out to everyone in the car. Most importantly, however, he would be the first to say he could not have done all of this without the help of his wife, right down to her pouring his coffee from his Stanley Thermos as he drove. Very few people have mastered, “Jenga in a Station Wagon” as well as Joe Mesmer did.
There was not a dog or Menards bucket he didn’t like, and it can be argued that his lawn was the loveliest on the west side of town. He enjoyed a good cup of coffee, a chili-cheeseburger with a thick slice of onion, an apple fritter from Caseys, and Clare’s unmatched cooking. He befriended many a stray cat and dog along his way, including an orange tabby cat in Mesa who welcomed him home to the condo complex when he’d pull up. He was also the Sutherland Care Center’s cat-favorite, especially since both enjoyed a good nap and the heater being on 80.
He is now missed and will continue to be missed by Clare, his wife of 67 years; Fred (Pam) Mesmer, his brother; Elizabeth (Boone) Dailey, John (Natalia) Mesmer, and Helen-Ann Mesmer, his children; Megan(Brittney), Zander, and Anastasia Barmina (Arman), his grandchildren; and an abundance of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother-Elizabeth, father-Fred, Step-Mother-Anne, his in-laws York and Helen Hinman, sister-Marie Dunham and infant Theodore Joseph.
Memorials are suggested to the Goodfellow Shoe Fund and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Book signing will be on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, July 13th, 2023 at 2pm with Reverend Mark Baldwin as officiant at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home. Of course, there will be a meal at the Moose Lodge afterward. The family requests comfortable attire. Please bring your favorite Joe Mesmer memory to share.
The service will be livestreamed at www.adamsswanson.com for those unable to attend. Adams and Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.