Deborah Diane Reed-Kessler 1953-2011

REED KESSLER

Posted By: Connie J Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/16/2012 at 19:35:15

Sioux City Journal
January 31, 2012

Deborah Diane Reed-Kessler, 58, of Castana died Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital after a difficult three-year battle against cancer. She was first diagnosed in early 2009, and while her first bout was treated successfully, more tumors reappeared in June 2011.

A celebration of life service will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Castana Community Church. Burial of the cremains will be in Kennebec Cemetery, near Castana. No visitation is planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Pearson Funeral Home in Onawa, Iowa.

Deb was born to Donald and Eileen Reed of Turin, Iowa on June 13, 1953. She was a student at Castana Community School through the fifth grade before the district closed. She was transferred to the Onawa Public School for two years. She graduated from Clarinda Community High School in 1971 and then attended South Dakota State University in Brookings, where she met her husband, Jerome Kessler, who preceded her in death on June 30, 2011.

Upon graduating and then marrying in 1975, the young couple returned to the Loess Hills. They established Loess Hills Pottery Gallery, which featured Jerry's pottery, Deb's wearable couture and knitwear, and work produced by other professional artists. The venture was successful and highly esteemed by local, national, and even international art enthusiasts for nearly 30 years.

In 1989, Jerry and Deb welcomed their only child, a daughter, Teniesha Anastasia Reed-Kessler-Emanuel, within whom they would proudly instill their artistic and alternative values. Deb not only immersed Teniesha in music from an early age, but she also taught private violin and piano lessons to a number of community children. Most recently, she was the K-6 art teacher in West Monona School District, where she inspired her students artistically and intellectually.

Deb is survived by her parents; her daughter; and her son-in-law, Thomas Emanuel.

Monona Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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