John Kessler, 73, passed away peacefully Friday, Jan. 20, 2023 at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf surrounded by his family.
Funeral services and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Solon.
Visitation will be Thursday from 4-7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport with the rosary prayed at 6:30 p.m. There will be additional visitation Friday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s, Solon.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Solon.
John Michael Kessler was born Aug. 10, 1949 in Iowa City, to Michael and Veronica (Kelly) Kessler. He was raised on a farm near Solon and graduated from Solon Community High School in 1967. He later earned a degree from St. Ambrose College in 1971 and his masters in education from Marycrest College in 1975 and did 60 hours of post graduate classes to improve teaching effectiveness.
John taught 35 years in the Davenport Community School District at Wilson, Johnson and Adams Elementary Schools. He loved working with students and providing a male influence in hundreds of children’s lives who did not have a male presence in their home. Mr. Kessler also trained over 20 student teachers leaving a lasting effect on generations of students. John was especially proud of the support he proved for Vietnamese refugees and tutored Vietnamese college students in English as well as a reading tutor in inner city schools.
He was a member of Holy Family Parish and served on the parish council. He was also devoted to the Knights of Columbus and was a member of the Deacon Timmerman Council #14678 and the Msgr. Leo J. Feeney 4th Degree Assembly. John was also a member of the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild.
Survivors include his sister, Mary Mueller, Ellicott City, Md., brother-in-law, Larry Edens; nephews: Danny (Michelle Neubauer) Edens, David Edens, all of Davenport; Greg (Denise) Mueller, Ellicott City, Md. and Michael (Kelly) Mueller, Santa Rosa, Calif.; grandnieces Anna and Sophie Mueller, of Ellicott City, Md. and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Margaret Edens and a brother-in-law, Loyle Mueller. May they rest in peace.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, All Saints Catholic School, or Knights of Columbus – Deacon Jerry Timmerman Council.
