KESLER, Joanne J. 1932-2015

KESLER

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 10/15/2015 at 11:27:44

Joanne Joyce Kesler

April 2, 1932 - October 13, 2015

Obituary--

Joanne Joyce (Lechelt) Kesler, 83, Northwood, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

A funeral service for Joanne will be held 10:30 A.M. Saturday, October 17, 2015, at the United Methodist Church, 1000 First Ave. North, Northwood, with Reverend Shirley Hoffmann Will officiating. Burial will be in the Sunset Rest Cemetery in Northwood. Visitation will be held from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Friday, at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. South, Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Saturday at the church. Those wishing to give a memorial may wish to consider contributions to the United Methodist Church in Northwood.

Joanne Joyce (Lechelt) Kesler was born on April 2, 1932, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Reinhold and Viola (Schaper) Lechelt. Joanne was baptized in Cedar Rapids, and reaffirmed the faith of her baptism through confirmation at the Methodist Church in Britt. In 1936, the family moved to Britt where she graduated from Britt High School in the class of 1950. She also graduated from Britt Junior College. Joanne worked at Farm Bureau in Garner, and for the superintendent at the Britt Community School.

She was united in marriage to George Kesler on July 26, 1953, at the Methodist Church in Britt, and shortly thereafter moved to Lake Mills. In 1963, the family moved to Northwood.

After their marriage she worked for Cool Springs Canning in Lake Mills, and was a bookkeeper for Veteran’s Oil Company in Lake Mills. Joanne also played the organ for many years as the church organist in Lake Mills and Northwood, and for many funerals at the church.

Joanne enjoyed playing the organ and piano, playing cards with her grandchildren, square dancing, reading, bowling, traveling to Branson, MO, and to south Texas with her husband George. She was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church, Naomi Circle, and the Soros’s Study Club all in Northwood.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband George Kesler of Northwood; her grandchildren, Jaime Stumo of Stamford, Cconnecticut, Kevin Hudson of Stephenville, Texas; and, Brooke Hudson, and special friend, Bobby Johnson of Vancouver, Washington; great-grandson, Skylar Kelsey, of Vancouver, Washington; son-in-law, Donald Hudson and friend, Marcia Faulkner of The Colony, Texas; sister, Frances Lawhorn of Northwood, brother, Ronald (Nancy) Lechelt of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and many nieces, nephews, and many extended family members and friends.

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Reinhold and Viola Lechelt; a son, Kevin Kesler in 1978; a daughter, Kimberly Hudson in 2004; a brother and sister-in-law, Merrill (Virginia) Lechelt; and a brother-in-law, Wayne Lawhorn.

Source: Colonial Chapels website