WELL-known and much-loved businessman Brian Messer died last weekend after a 13-month illness.Mr Messer, 79, died at the St John of God Hospital on Sunday and a private funeral was held on Tuesday.He was best known as an owner of Messer and Opie Mensland in the Bridge Mall where he worked for almost 60 years. Mr Messer was dedicated to serving the community, especially by providing uniforms for school children from across the Ballarat region. Adored by his staff and business partners and respected by the Ballarat community, Mr Messer has left his mark on those he was close to.Mensland employee of 40 years Bernie Franklin couldn't speak highly enough of Mr Messer."He was wonderful to his staff," Mr Franklin said. "He was just a true gentleman in every respect and we thought he was a fantastic guy."Born in Ballarat on January 20, 1931, Mr Messer would have celebrated his 80th birthday today.He was educated at the Mt Pleasant State School and then Ballarat High School.On the September 17, 1955, he married Pam, and last year the couple celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.Mrs Messer said her late husband was "wonderful" and "always wanted the best for us".The couple's two children, Michael and Fiona, described their father as "caring" and always "the first on the scene".Aside from his family, Mr Messer's great love was for his ponies, and they took up a big part of his life. He and Mrs Messer moved out to a 30-hectare hobby farm in 1978 where he bred the animals. He had up to 30 ponies at a time, as well as cattle and sheep. He loved to take his ponies to shows, and he won multiple awards at the Royal Melbourne Show.Mrs Messer said one of her husband's ponies, which the family are waiting to sell, was runner-up supreme champion at the Bendigo Show last weekend.As an active member of the Ballarat community, Mr Messer spent much of his spare time helping charitable organisations close to his heart. He was an instrumental president of Pennyweight Park, a centre for disabled people, and chairman of the appeal that raised the money to build the park.Mr Messer was also on the council of the Spastic Society of Victoria, a former member of the Rotary Club of Ballarat and a member of the Ballarat Masonic Lodge for almost 60 years.He loved to play polo and was a key figure in starting the polo club in Ballarat.Mr Messer was a popular member of the Ballarat community and will be dearly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.