ERNEST KESSLER

Ernest John Kessler Ernest J. Kessler ("Ernie"), husband of Dorothy R. Kessler, passed away on May 30, 2012 at the age of 93. The son of Jacob and Ida Kessler, he was born in Bow, Washington on December 18, 1918 and later moved to the Fife area where he spent his school age years. Ernest graduated from Fife High School in 1935 at the age of 16, two years ahead of schedule. He recieved special recognition as never missing a day of school from 1st grade through high school graduation. Upon graduation, Ernest joined the Bell Telephone Company. In April 1943, he married his beloved Dorothy who he was with for over 69 years until the date of his death. He joined the Navy in 1944 during WWII serving in the Asiatic-Pacific area campaign. Upon discharge from the navy, he resumed his work for the Bell Telephone Company where he worked a total of 42 years. Ernest loved travel. He and Dorothy made many wonderful and memorable trips to various parts of the world. He loved geography and spent many happy hours studying the world atlas and road maps. He was proud of his Swiss heritage and made several trips to Switzerland, the first at the age of ten. He was fluent in both English and the Swiss language. He was very impressed with the beauty of Switzerland and the friendliness of the Swiss people. In addition to travel, he loved the many Kessler family get-togethers held over the years, both here, in Montana, and even in Switzlerland. He enjoyed golf, tennis, and sports in general. He also loved ballroom dancing; he and Dorothy made many wonderful friends as members of the Tahoma Dance Club. In addition to his wife Dorothy, Ernest is survived by a daughter Carol Frudenfeld of Los Angeles, California, a son Richard Kessler of Edgewood, Washington, a brother Alfred of Tacoma, granddaughters Tara Lynn Carne and Jena Lee Robinson both of El Segundo, California, and Keri Ann Armstrong of Ellensburg, Washington, great-granddaughters Sydney Carne, Chloe Carne, Shelby Carne, and Ella Armstrong, great-grandson Easton Armstrong, and many cousins, nieces and nephews, both here and in Switzerland. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sister Bertha Suter, brothers Jacob Kessler, Walter Kessler, and Arnold Kessler, and by his grandson John Kessler. At the request of the family, no public service will be held.