Obituaries

Funeral Tuesday For Former Caldwell Fire Chief 'Red' Messer

'Red' Messer served in the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department for 55 years, after leaving the Navy honorably. Find out more about him here.

'Red' Messer served in the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department for 55 years, after leaving the Navy honorably. Find out more about him here.
'Red' Messer served in the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department for 55 years, after leaving the Navy honorably. Find out more about him here. (Shutterstock / HenryHo)

THE CALDWELLS, NJ — Former Caldwell Fire Chief Richard "Red" Messer, who'd spent 55 years working with the volunteer department, passed away on Tuesday at age 81.

According to his obituary, Messer had graduated from Bloomfield High School, served in the Navy until 1961, and worked for 34 years as a telephone repairman for Bell, AT&T, and Verizon.

He and wife Providencia Jimenez raised their family in Caldwell.

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"Red was chief during the 100th Anniversary of the Caldwell Fire Department and was instrumental in purchasing the E-1 ladder truck in 1991," notes the obit.

He's survived by his wife, three children, and a number of grandchildren.

Find out what's happening in Caldwellswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Services are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 3 and 4. He will be buried in Caldwell. Find out more here.


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