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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened
3to learn of the death of Kenneth Marvin Kesler of Dewey, who
4passed away on January 18, 2023; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Kenneth Kesler was born in rural Dewey to Roy and
6Helen (Deffenbaugh) Kesler on January 13, 1925; he began his
7education in a one-room schoolhouse, graduated from Champaign
8High School in 1942, and attended the University of Illinois;
9as a young man, he served as a justice of the peace; he married
10Lora Mae Griffith at First Methodist Church of Champaign on
11September 21, 1947; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Kenneth Kesler retired from farming at the age of
1389; he was passionate about soil and water conservation for 60
14years and served in various local and state positions; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Kenneth Kesler received many awards and
16recognitions in his lifetime, including for being an
17outstanding young farmer and having the young farm family of
18the year; he was also recognized as the News-Gazette Farm
19Leader and received the Prairie Farmer Master Farmer Award,
20along with many soil and water conservation awards; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Kenneth Kesler enjoyed building things in his

 

 

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1shop and was particularly proud of a small tractor he built; he
2was a 4-H leader for 20 years, a charter member of Boots and
3Bows square-dance club, and active in First United Methodist
4Church; he loved sports, especially the Chicago Cubs and the
5Fighting Illini; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Kenneth Kesler was preceded in death by his
7parents; three brothers; and two sisters; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Kenneth Kesler is survived by his wife, Lora; his
9daughters, Chris (Jerry) Wallace and Linda (Mark) Allen; his
10son, Rick (Carol) Kesler; his grandchildren, Wendy (Eric)
11Hadden, Becky (Eric) Landers, Tiffany (Jeff) Rydz, Tyler
12Wallace, Lucas (Katie) Allen, Laura (Elliot) Hernan, Matthew
13(Lisa) Allen, Chad Kesler, Alex (Shauna) Upperman, and Griffy
14(Tess) Kesler; 19 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Frances
15Tobin; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18Kenneth Marvin Kesler and extend our sincere condolences to
19his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
20further
 
21    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
22presented to the family of Kenneth Kesler as an expression of

 

 

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1our deepest sympathy.