KESSEL, Raymond Jacob Jr.

KESSEL, LEDGER, BURGER, SIRDOREUS, GARRETSON, CURRY, KEMP, ESTLE, NELSON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 1/12/2008 at 12:06:16

"The Fairfield Ledger", Thursday, January 10, 2008, Page 10

KESSEL, Raymond Jacob Jr. -- Raymond Jacob KESSEL Jr., 81, passed away Wednesday, January 9th and will be buried in the Evergreen Cemetery with military rites.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Saturday at St. Mary Catholic Church of Fairfield. The rosary will be recited by the Knights of Columbus at 6:00 P.M. Friday and prayers for a Christian wake will be at 6:30 P.M. at the church.

Open visitation will be on Friday from 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. at the Raymond Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at St. Mary Church with the family present.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Welcoming Family of Faith (funding for the new Catholic Church), Masses or the donor's choice.

Raymond was born July 19th, 1926 in Washington, Iowa. To Raymond Sr. and Elizabeth LEDGER KESSEL. He lived his early life in Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Raymond graduated from Pleasant Plain High School. He was inducted into the Army, 3rd division Army of occupation in April of 1945. He spent a year in the town of Kassal, Germany and saw a lot of prisoners of war sent back to their homelands. He was discharged as a private first class in November of 1946.

He married Alice Louise BURGER of Germanville, Iowa on January 30, 1947. They were married in the church of St. Joseph's in East Pleasant Plain by Father Paul Weitzine. They lived on the family farm and operated it until December of 1951. They moved his family to Fairfield to a farm he had purchased there. He also worked at Dexter Company for 37 years (and was a foreman for 5 years).

He raised the family at this location until June of 1987 when health problems caused him to retire from Dexter Company. He and his wife moved into Fairfield in July 2000 and to Southgate in 2005 for the remainder of his life.

He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus receiving many citations. He belonged to the American Legion and was a member of 4-H for several years. His main enjoyment were farming and mechanics. He had a great love for his children and young people. Raymond was a great help to his wife in the many years of her occupation of child care.

Their family consists of 7 children and his wife Alice, all of Fairfield. David (Charlotte), Anabelle SIRDOREUS (Jerry), Michael (Bonnie), Joan SIRDOREUS (Don), John (Kathy), Charles (Kathy) and Mary GARRETSON (Lynn).

The 14 grandchildren are Robert KESSEL (Sarah), Paul KESSEL (Amy), Lauri CURRY (Terry), Kay KEMP (Alan), Dan SIRDOREUS (Heidi), Jim SIRDOREUS (Jessica), Denise ESTLE (Robert), Chris KESSEL (Jody), Ed SIRDOREUS (Deborah), Heather NELSON (Shawn), Joe GARRETSON (Nichole), Ryan GARRETSON, deceased, Sarah KESSEL and Jonquil KESSEL.

There are 23 great-grandchildren in the family.

Raymond was preceded in death by his mother, father, and grandson, Ryan GARRETSON.

Arrangements are in the care of the Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield.

Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.

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