Charles Henry Kessler

Charles Henry Kessler passed away on July 20, 2023 at Allure Nursing Home in Mount Carroll, IL.

Charles was born April 14, 1926, at the Kessler family farm in Wacker, Illinois. He was the second son of Charles Ellsworth Kessler and Vera Weidman Kessler. Charles attended grade school in a one room schoolhouse at Hickory Grove and graduated from Mt. Carroll Community High School in 1944.

After completing high school, Chuck worked as a hired man. In 1949 he married his wife Betty Lorene Schneider and the two moved back to the Kessler family farm that same year. Together they had four children. Betty passed in 1956. He later married Ruth Schoening and her son Mark joined the family. Ruth passed away in 1976 and he later met, Doris Gorman, whom he married in 1978.

Chuck started farming at a young age with his father, Charles Sr., and younger brother Gerald. He continued the family farm business in Wacker, with his son, Dennis, well into his late 80s which included dairy farming, raising hogs, a beef herd and corn. He always had a love of the land and was proud to be the fourth generation of the family centennial farm, with part of the land being sesquicentennial.

He was a member of the Mt. Carroll United Methodist Church, he served on the Mt. Carroll School Board for a number of years and he was a member and past Master of the Cyrus Lodge #188 where was recognized as Mason of the Year in 2010. In addition, Chuck was a Trustee of the Mt. Carroll Fire Protection District for 42 years. He enjoyed attending the 4-C’s as well as the Loyal Order of the Moose and was a member of the Carroll County Farm Bureau.

Chuck was named Illinois Dairyman of the year in 1996. He served as a Director on the Swiss Valley Farms Co-op Board for 31 years and was a treasurer for 23 of those years. Chuck was President of the Illinois Milk Producers Association for 13 years and served as a director for 29 years. He was also a Director for the American Dairy Association of Illinois for 29 years, serving as Vice President for 15 of those years. He was a charter member of the Illinois Milk Promotion Board serving as Director and Treasurer. Chuck was also a member and served as a Director with the St. Louis District Dairy Council for 20 years, and he was also a Director the Midland Dairy Association for 8 years.

Charles Henry Kessler is survived by his wife, Doris E. Kessler, his five children, Dennis (Marlene) Kessler, Mark (Jan) Schoening, Barbara (Charles) Jacobs, stepdaughter Linda (Royce) Reed and stepdaughter Patricia (Dan) Spaulding, 11 grandchildren, Jennifer (Terry Sabin) Cassidy, Sarah (Brian) Rekenthaler, Ryan (LeeAnne) Kessler, Matthew Jacobs, Rebeka (Justin) Weeks, Nathan (Adrien) Kessler, Douglas (Lacy) Schoening, Dane (Staci) Schoening, Benjamin Jacobs, step granddaughter Sarah (Chad) Sikkema and step grandson Andrew Spaulding, along with 16 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. Chuck was preceded in death his wife, Betty Lorene Kessler, his wife Ruth Schoening, his daughter Kathleen Cassidy, his infant daughter Lorene Kessler, his parents Charles Ellsworth Kessler and Vera Weidman Kessler, his brothers Herbert Kessler, Gerald Kessler and Gene Kessler.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2pm Sunday, July 23, 2023 at Law Jones Funeral Home in Mt. Carroll with visitation one hour prior from 1 – 2pm Sunday at the funeral home. Masonic Rites will be given at 12:30pm Sunday, prior to the visitation. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Mt. Carroll. A memorial is established for the Mount Carroll Fire Protection District and the Mount Carroll Ambulance Association.