Earl William “Bill” Kesler, 80, of Rochester passed away on Tuesday, September 13, at Samaritan Bethany Nursing Home.
Bill was born on June 15, 1936 in Storm Lake, Iowa, to the late Earl and Dorine (Crotty) Kesler. He married Mary Adamson on June 14, 1958 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester, MN, she survives.
Bill is survived by his six children, Brian (Linda) Kesler of Mantorville, Pam Sparks of Rochester, Julie Mosser of Rochester, Dan (Rosa) Kesler of Rochester, Katie (Jon) Jeckell of Silvis, IL, and Mike (Jessie) Kesler of Oronoco; sixteen grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren with two on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Dorine, and sister, Beverly Freeman.
Bill graduated from Lourdes High School in 1954. Bill served in the US Army from 1956-58 and was stationed in Hawaii. He started working at IBM in 1960, spending 33 years there before retiring in 1993. He later returned to IBM part time, working until 2005.
His passion was his wife and children. He was involved in all of their activities and loved time at the family cabin in Wisconsin. After the kids were grown, he and Mary enjoyed trips to Hawaii, where he was able to show her where he had been stationed years before while in the military. Football was another strong passion of Bill’s; he spent 16 years coaching Rochester Youth Football.
He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church for over 50 years where he was involved serving as a Eucharist minister and on the church board. He also enjoyed calling bingo and volunteered on various Catholic school boards over the years.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10:00AM Monday, September 19, 2016 at St. Pius X Catholic Church with the Rev. Charlie Collins officiating. Visitation will be held 1:00PM to 4:00PM Sunday, September 18 in River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the Mass on Monday at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Rochester Catholic Schools or St. Pius X Catholic Church.
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