David C Kessler
(May 23, 1947 – July 07, 2017)
A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2017 in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with Rev. Dan Seibert officiating and military rites by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday and one hour before service time on Wednesday. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church, Chautauqua Building Fund, Memorial Sunken Garden or General Dacey Trail all in Shelbyville, IL.
Dave was born on May 23, 1947 in Effingham, IL, the son of Glen Junior and Anita Butcher Kessler. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1965. Dave was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, serving in active duty from 1967-1971 and U.S. Naval Reserve (Seabees Combat Warfare) from 1979-1996, retiring with the rank of Senior Chief Builder. Dave earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in History from Illinois State University, Normal, IL in 1978 and his Master of Arts Degree in History from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL in 1988. He also completed numerous courses in real estate and property assessment. Dave owned and operated D.C. Kessler Concrete Contracting from 1974-1978 and was part owner of Shelbyville Redi-Mix from 1978-1987. In 1988 he began working for the State of Illinois Department of Transportation as a Field Technician and was responsible for Shelby, Coles, Moultrie and Fayette Counties. He retired in 2008. Dave was a member of the First United Methodist Church, V.F.W. Post #4829 and Roy Vanderpool American Legion Post #81 all in Shelbyville, IL. He enjoyed traveling and collecting. He married Carol Haskell on August 18, 1973.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; brother, Steve Kessler and wife Janet of Pana, IL; sister, Debbie Smith of Ballwin, MO; sisters-in-law, Cynthia Haskell Bade and husband Don of Momence, IL, Karyn Kuch Haskell of Decatur, IL and Janet Smith Haskell of Muscatine, IA; six nieces and nephews; and nine great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Glen and Anita; infant twin brother, Daniel C. Kessler; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dorothy and Kenneth Haskell; sister-in-law, Loretta Kessler; and brothers-in-law, Jerry Smith, Steve Haskell and David Haskell.