Kessler, Andy Richard, 1905-1924

KESSLER, WALL

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

From the Rock Valley Bee, December 26, 1924:

RICHARD KESSLER PASSED AWAY AT AMES THURSDAY

Andy Richard Kessler was born at Rock Valley September 5, 1905; died at Ames, Iowa, December 18, 1924, at the age of 19 years, 3 months, 13 days.

The whole of his short life was living in Rock Valley except the two years the family spent on a farm near Murdo, S. Dak. While in Dakota he attended the Midland high school, where he took his eleventh grade work; the rest of his grade and high school education was obtained in the Rock Valley high school, from which he graduated a little over a year ago. He was an exceptionally good student and was eager to secure an education. He was so pleased when he found it was possible for him to go to college. He decided on Ames and left Rock Valley on September 19 to begin the course that would fit him the better for his life's work. His college record was as clean and upright as his past life had been, and he was enjoying his college life very much when he was stricken with the dreadful disease which caused his death.

The fatal sickness came upon Richard all at once. He said he had not felt very well for a couple of days, but went to all his classes and to an entertainment the same evening he was taken sick. In a letter home he wrote the day before he went to the hospital, he did not mention feeling ill at all, but told them he may not get home for his Christmas vacation before Saturday evening if they had his classes. Early Saturday morning, about 2 o'clock, he was taken with a chill, but did not say anything to any one. However, he got up early and told his room mate he was going to the hospital.

The doctors at the hospital immediately pronounced it pneumonia, and sent a message to his father, telling him of Richard's condition. His father and mother left at once and arrived in Ames Sunday morning, consulted the doctors and nurses, but none of them gave them much encouragement. On Monday he seemed some better and their hopes began to rise, but on Tuesday they noticed that there was a change for the worse again, and from then on he continued to fail until the end came Thursday evening about 7 o'clock.

Everything that medical skill and loving care could do was done, but the Divine plan seemed to have been made before. Four of the hospital doctors were in attendance and one or more of them were with him constantly. His father and mother were with him to the end and he was conscious most of the time. He knew them and he enquired for his little brother, Vernon.

They brought him home Friday evening on the same train he planned to come on to spend his vacation.

Richard, "Johnny" as his friends called him, was a most exemplary young man. Everyone spoke well of him and remarked what a splendid young man he was. His untimely death is a great shock to his relatives and friends here, who extend their sincere sympathy to the bereaved parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Kessler, and his little brother, Vernon, who are left to mourn.

Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at the N. C. Kessler home. Many beautiful floral tributes were in evidence there, given by his school mates here as tokens of the high regard in which he was held by them.

(A news note in the same issue of the Bee says that J. B. Wall, of Chamberlain, S.D., a former resident of Rock Valley, arrived Friday, being called here by the death of his grand-son, Richard Kessler.)

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A similar but shorter obituary was published in the Alton Democrat, December 27, 1924, Rock Valley news. It calls him Andrew Richard Kessler and adds that he graduated from the Rock Valley high school in 1922 and enrolled at the Iowa State Agricultural college at Ames in September 1924.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Kessler, Andy Richard, b. 1905, d. 1924, son of A. W. & R. E., Valley View Cem Rock Valley IA.