Leon Perry Kessel 1922-2012

KESSEL, PARIS, CURTISS, WENTWORTH, PETERSON, WILKINS, MYERS, MADETZKE, NORTHWICK

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 5/8/2012 at 11:53:00

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa March 14, 2012)

KESSEL, Leon Perry "Bud," 89, of Lamoni, Iowa, died on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center in Lamoni, Iowa. Services are pending.

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa March 21, 2012)

KESSEL, Leon Perry "Bud," 89, of Lamoni, Iowa, died on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center in Lamoni, Iowa. A Celebration of Life was held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, 2012 at the Lamoni United Methodist Church with Pastor Jodi Rushing and Bud Atwood officiating. Burial was at 11:00 a.m. o Monday, March 19 at Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. Cremation arrangements were through Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon and Lamoni, Iowa.

Memorials will be donated to Lamoni Lion's club and the Decatur County Hospital Landscaping Fund.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa March 21, 2012)

LEON "BUD" KESSEL ... Leon Perry Kessel, age 89, known to all as Bud, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 12, 2012.

Bud was born on October 21, 1922, to Ethel [Paris] and Lee Kessel near Elmore, Minnesota. His family farmed in the Elmore area. Bud attended a country school near Elmore through grade 8 and then worked on the family farm.

Bud served as a Private First Class in the United States Army during World War II in Japan. He was a light tank driver, rifleman, and served with the military police.

Bud married Winnferd (Curtiss) Kessel on June 12, 1947, and to this union two children were born, Leon Gene and Joane Dalene.

Bud and Winnie had an egg delivery route and delivered eggs to people in Lamoni for many years. they delivered cream every Saturday to the Creamery in Lamoni. Bud worked at Kneip Packing Plant, Lamoni Farmers Grain and seed, and Lamoni Sale Barn. Bud farmed all his life raising cattle, hogs, and sheep along with row crops and a custom hay business.

Bud was Commander of the American Legion in Lamoni for many years. He served on the Midcrest Area Rural Development Committee that was instrumental in the establishment of the SIRWA rural water system. He served on the Decatur County Fair Board as a member and as president. He was also a member of the Lamoni Lion's Club.

Health problems limited Bud in later years. After moving off the farm, Bud lived at Crown Colony, Assisted Living, and a short time at Lamoni Nursing and Rehab Center.

Bud's parents, wife Winnie, sister Helen Wentworth, brother Ray Kessel, sister-in-law Helen Kessel, and brothers-in-law Harold Wentworth and Ray Peterson all preceded him in death.

Surviving are son, Leon Kessel and wife Shirley of Lamoni; daughter, Joan Wilkins and husband Mike of Bryant, IN; 4 grandchildren, Brian Kessel and wife Heather of Lamoni; Sam Kessel and wife Laura of Des Moines, IA; Vanessa Myers and husband Josh of Whitestown, IN; Carissa Wilkins of Indianapolis, IN; 3 great grandchildren, Rebecca, Lincoln, and Eliot; siblings, Lola Peterson of Pomona, CA; Maxine Madetzke of Titonka, IA; Amos (Buster) Kessel of Lansboro, MN; Gene Kessel and wife Pearl of Lakota, IA; Marvin Kessel and wife Mary of Morganton, NC; Phyllis Northwick of Blue Earth, MN; sister-in-law Doris Kessel of Blue Earth, MN, and many other relatives and friends.