Gene A. Kessler, 78, rural Colony, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015, at Windsor Place in Iola.
Gene was born Sept. 21, 1937, in Thayer, the son of Archie and Sadie (Johnson) Kessler. He grew up in the Geneva area and graduated valedictorian from Neosho Falls High School. He farmed northwest of Iola in the Geneva Township all of his life.
On July 17, 1960, Gene married Mary Lee Yoho at First Baptist Church in Iola. She preceded him in death May 30, 2012.
He is survived by two sons, Charles Stratton and wife Alydia, rural Colony, and DeWayne Kessler and wife Margo, rural Colony; one sister, Evelyn Miller, Santa Maria, Calif.; four grandchildren, Carol and Scott Kress, Deana and Paul Bittinger, Autumn and Jamie Adair and Alexis Setter; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brother Henry Kessler and sisters Wilma Kessler and Margaret Dole.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Chapel in Iola. Burial will follow at Geneva Cemetery northwest of Iola.
Memorial gifts to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society may be left with the funeral home. To sign the guest book online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
Gene Kessler
