Kenneth Marvin Kesler (1925 - 2023)

Born 13 Jan 1925 in Condit Township, Champaign, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Note: 26. KENNETH MARVIN KESLER was born 13 Jan 1925 in Condit Twp., Champaign Co., IL, the son of Roy F. and Helen I. (Deffenbaugh) Kesler. He married Lora Mae Griffith on 21 Sep 1947 in lst Methodist Church, Champaign, IL. She was born on 30 Jan 1925 in Henry IL, daughter of Burdette and Mable (Glenn) Griffith. Lora Mae is a graduate of the University of Illinois and has taken an active part in community affairs serving on among others the Champaign County Home Bureau Board, the Champaign County Homemakers Extension Council and the Home Economics Advisory Council for the Fisher school board. Kenneth started farming on his own in 1947. Since then he has taken a lead in soil conservation, and won several awards for his work. In 1973 he was named a Champaign County Farm Leader of the Year by the NewsGazette. He was named a Master Farmer for 1981 by Prairie Farmer. He was cited for his outstanding work in the field of soil con- servation, serving as chairman of the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District, and on the Governor's Soil and Water Conservation Advisory Committee. He has also been a 4-H club leader for 20 years. He and Lora Mae are members of the lst United Methodist Church in Champaign. Their children were all born in Burnham Hospital in Champaign. Their son Rick Kesler married Cynthia Ann Krawchuk on 27 Jun 1976 in the lst United Methodist Church, Champaign. He and his wife were divorced on 15 Dec 1980. Rick graduated from the University of Illinois in 1975 with a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and now works as a sales representative with FMC Corporation in their agricultural chemicals division. He lives in Decatur, IL. 2 Kenneth started farming on his own in 1947. Since then he has taken a lead in soil conservation, and won several awards for his work. In 1973 he was named a Champaign County Farm Leader of the Year by the News-Gazette. He was named a Master Farmer for 1981 by Prairie Farmer. He was cited for his outstanding work in the field of soil conservation, serving as chairman of the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation District since ????, and on the Governor's Soil and Water conservation Advisory Committee. He has also been a 4-H club leader for 20 years. 2 "KESLER-GRIFFITH MARRIAGE VOWS ARE SOLEMNIZED IN CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY IN METHODIST CHURCH. "Before the palm and flower banked and candlelighted altar of the First Methodist church, Miss Lora Mae Griffith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Burdette Griffith of Dewey and Kenneth M. Kesler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kesler, route 4, Champaign, repeated their marriage vows in a pretty wedding of early fall at 4 o'clock Sunday afternoon. "Doctor H. Clifford Northcott officiated at the double ring ceremony in the presence of 200 guests. Miss Ruth Helen Burlison presided at the piano and played a half-hour recital preceding the appointed hour. She accompanied Mrs. Clyde Kesler, sister-in-law of the bridegroom, who sang, "At Dawning" and "Through the Years.". "To the strains of the "Bridal Chorus" from Lohengrin the bridal party entered the church, the bride on the arm of her father who gave her in marriage. She was attended by her sister, Miss Glenna Griffith as maid of honor and by Mrs. Gordon Trumbauer of Ann Arbor, Mich. a college roommate and Mrs. John L. Miller of Marion, a high school friend. "Keith Kesler attended his twin brother as best man and the ushers were Delmar Kesler, brother of the bridegroom and Bill Griffith, the bride's brother. "Wearing a bridal gown of eggshell satin and lace, the bride, an attractive brunette, was lovely. The gown fashioned with lace yoke and lace inserts in the long sleeves had a fitted bodice with a full skirt and train. Her fingertip veil of eggshell net fell from a garland of orange blossoms. She carried a cascade bouquet of white gladioli surrounding a white orchid. "The bride's three attendants were in gowns of deep aqua moire taffeta, fashioned with bustle backs and full skirts with tiny trains. They wore matching short fitted jackets with long sleeves. The maid of honor's bouquet was a cascade of yellow mums and she wore matching flowers in her hair. The bridesmaids' cascade bouquets were of bronze, yellow and rust chrysanthemums and they wore matching flowers in their hair. "The bride's mother was in a street length dress of light blue with black accessories while the bridegroom's mother was in teal blue with black accessories. Their corsages were of red roses. "At the close of the ceremony, the soloist sang "The Lord's Prayer" by Malotte as the couple knelt at the altar. Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" announced the retirement of the bridal party. "The reception followed in the church parlor where the bride's table was charmingly appointed in all white, the three tiered wedding cake topped with white icing roses being surrounded by a garland of white mums. White tapers were on either side of the cake. Mrs. Perry Glover, aunt of the bride, cut the wedding cake, and Mrs. Oscar Steer, aunt of the bride, and Miss Evelyn Baird served the punch. Others who assisted at the reception were: Miss Carol Lott, Miss Frances Kesler and Miss Marvel Kesler, sisters of the bridegroom, and Miss Helen Steer, cousin of the bride. Mrs. Robert Kroner was in charge of the guest book. "Mr. and Mrs. Kesler left later on a two weeks' wedding trip through the west by automobile after which they will be at home on a farm south of Dewey. "For going away, Mrs. Kesler changed to a light brown wool gabardine suit with dark brown accessories and the white orchid corsage from her bridal bouquet. "Mrs. Kesler is a graduate of the Fisher high school and was graduated from the University of Illinois in 1946. She is employed in the accounting division at the University of Illinois. Mr. Kesler is a graduate of Champaign high school with the class of 1942 and attended the University of Illinois. He is now engaged in farming.". The Champaign News-Gazette.

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