William Henry Messner

William Henry Messner, aged 87, left us peacefully on January 25, 2025 in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Born on New Year’s Eve in 1937 in Rocky River, Ohio to the late Wilford Henry Messner and Marian Cochran Messner, the family moved when Bill was very young to Grosse Pointe, Michigan where he lived for the next 70+ years of his life before settling in West Bloomfield. He graduated from the old Grosse Pointe High and then matriculated to the Detroit Institute of Technology (to become a “DITiot”) before serving in the U.S. Air Force as Airman, First Class during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. He was afectionately known as “Bugs” because he had what appeared to be a birthmark on his face. The blemish eventually faded away, but the name stuck and throughout his life people would yell across the way, “Hey, Bugsy, get over here!” Bugs loved baseball more than anything and thrived on the baseball diamond for many years. While his body may have worn out a bit as a first baseman, his passion for the game marched on. Whenever his beloved Tigers were on TV, you could be sure Bugs was there taking it all in! Bill would tell you himself, though, that coaching his two boys in Little League over the years was the highlight of his baseball career. With his steady stewardship and moderately talented squads, he won a Little League Championship and competed each year of his helmsmanship. His experience and focus on fundamentals was legendary and everyone benefited from his passion for the game. He was a gifted salesman for many years with such household names as Hallmark Cards, Lenox Candles and Williamson-Dickie (of the apparel company, “Dickies”). He was the consummate salesman that owners and buyers looked forward to seeing and working with because he didn’t push his merchandise on people. His soft approach of explaining the benefits of his wares was years ahead of the industry. He never spoke ill of his competitors and always took the high ground when asked of his opinion of the competition. Bill is survived by his wife, Marilyn Fiori Messner, and a blissful marriage of over 60 years. They had two sons together: Billy (Michele) Messner and Jay (Shariese) Messner that remained close to them. He was also a cherished Papa Bill to five grandchildren: Bryce, Mackenzie, Lauren, Armani and Peyton and one great-grandson, Crew. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, Terry Messner of Port Orange, Florida and is survived by his older brother, Lynn Messner of Miami, Florida. He will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. At Bill’s request, there will be no funeral arrangements. As is befitting his true love, memorial donations in Bill’s honor are appreciated to the Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League:

William Henry Messner

December 31, 1937 - January 25, 2025