J. Nelson Kessinger, 85, of Litchfield, died at 6:10 a.m. Thursday, July 30, 2009, at St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield.
A private family graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, at Mayfield Memorial Park Cemetery in Carlinville, the Rev. Mike Michels of Litchfield officiating. Plummer Funeral Home, Litchfield, is in charge of arrangements.
At Mr. Kessinger's request, no visitation is scheduled and the service will be private.
He was born March 24, 1924, in rural Carlinville, son of Charles Fred and Harriet Pearl (Morris) Kessinger. He graduated from Carlinville High School in 1941 and from Blackburn College in 1947. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1948 and taught high school agriculture in Potomac. He was awarded the American Famer Degree during the Future Farmers national convention.
Mr. Kessinger served in the Army during the Occupation of Japan at the end of World War II.
In 1957, he accepted a position with the Litchfield Creamery Company and was employed there until his 1988 retirement. He was a long-time Little League baseball coach, a volunteer at the Litchfield Food Pantry and the Rotary Club's Bluebird Trail and a member of the Library Board. He enjoyed bowling and watching sports, especially when his grandson, Thomas, played.
Mr. Kessinger married Mary Ellen Jewell on Aug. 28, 1948, at Carlinville, and she survives.
He leaves two sons, Alan Kessinger of Tucson, AZ, and Curtis (wife Jan) Kessinger of Lakewood, CA; three daughters, Jean Kessinger of Richmond, INk Carol (husband Gerald) Millburg of Litchfield and Sandra Kessinger of Springfield; and four grandchildren, Thomas Millburg of Litchfield, and Matt, Scott and Stacy Reynolds of Lakewood, CA.
Also surviving are two great-grandchildren, Sydney and Tyler Reynolds of Lakewood, CA; two brothers, Morris Kessinger of Mt. Morris and John Kessinger of Decatur; one sister, Betty (husband Vern) Easley of Albuquerque, NM; and a brother-in-law, Albert Willis of Mulberry Grove.
Mr. Kessinger's parents preceded him in death, as did two sisters, Lois Kessinger and Shirley Willis; and one son, David Kessinger.
The family suggests memorials to Litchfield Food Pantry or Litchfield Sports Boosters.
For more information or to sign the online guestbook, visit plummerfuneralservices.com.
