Richard A. Kessler (1945-2018)

Richard “Dick” A. Kessler, 73, passed away on Thursday, May 10, 2018 after a short but strong battle with pancreatic cancer.

Richard was born on April 16, 1945, the son of Reinhold and Edna (Langer) Kessler. Educated at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran School and a 1963 graduate of Mary D. Bradford High School, he then went on to graduate with a photography diploma from The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts.

On October 30, 1965, he married the love of his life, Barbara Fishler. They were blessed with 52 years of marriage.

Richard was employed in various positions at Jockey International for over 17 years where he also held various leadership positions in their union, ACTWU Local 2268, including several terms as president of the union. He also served on Kenosha AFL-CIO Council and the Kenosha Labor Paper Board of Trustees. After graduating from Gateway with his Associate of Applied Science Degree in Mechanical Design in 1988, he continued his career as a CAD drafter and design engineer at various companies until retiring from Machinery & Factory, Inc. of Racine in 2010.

In 1981, Richard was appointed to the Kenosha County Board of Supervisors 4th District and went on to be elected and proudly served the people of the 4th district in this position for 29 consecutive years. He also served as the County Board Vice Chairman from 2000 – 02 and County Board Chairman from 2002-2004, as well as serving on many Committees and Boards for the county including the Brookside Care Center Board of Trustees. He also served on the Wisconsin Counties Association Finance and Taxation Steering Committee from 2001-2004. He retired as a County Supervisor in 2010 but continued to serve on the Brookside Care Center Home Board of Trustees until the time of his death.

Richard was a member of Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, member of the Southeastern Wisconsin Blood Center, and a United Way Counselor for 15 years. He was a past president of the Kenosha Sportfishing & Conservation Association and many years as the association’s newsletter editor, member of the KSFCA Fly Tying group, and member of Trout Unlimited, and loved fishing especially his trips with his son and friends to Canada, Montana and all over Wisconsin. He was a loyal Green Bay Packers fan.

Richard is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, and his sons, Scott (Page) Kessler and Randy (Arianne) Kessler all of Kenosha; his grandchildren Payden, Wyatt, Arabella and Carmelina as well as his sister Lois (Donald) Krueger of Leesburg, Florida, Marilyn (Mark) Huntoon of Sturtevant and Carolyn (Todd) Wessel of Mt. Prospect, IL as well as many brother-in-laws, sister-In-laws, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sister, Elizabeth and brother-in-law James Andersen and special niece Karen Summerville.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday May 16, 2018 at 11:00AM at Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenosha. (5038 19th Avenue) Visitation with the family will be on Wednesday at the church from 9:00AM until the time of services. Burial will take place later.

In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances to Friedens Evangelical Lutheran Church, Brookside Care Center Sunshine Club, or the American Cancer Society would be appreciated.