JOSEPH WILLIAM KESSLER

1934 - 2022

JOSEPH WILLIAM KESSLER, 87, of Fort Wayne, passed away on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. Born March 20, 1934, in Fort Wayne, he was a son of the late William Kessler and Mary Adamski. Joe was married to Helen Smola in Patuxent River, Md., at the Naval Air Station in 1955. They were happily married 56 years until her passing in 2011. Joe was a retired U.S. Navy veteran having served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was Honorably discharged in 1970 as an ABEC and awarded the 5th Navy Good Conduct Award, National Defense Service Medal, and Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon. Joe enjoyed 50 years spent as a life insurance agent for Mass Mutual; still making sales pitches while in Hospice Care. He was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church as well as the John Chapman Kiwanis Club. In his spare time Joe enjoyed spending time with his family, at the lake and occasionally the casino. He is survived by his children, Liz (Norb) Nagel, Joseph Kessler Jr. and Phillip (Donna) Kessler; grandchildren, Tricia (Sarah) Hook, Joseph William Kessler III, Zach (Kathryn) Nagel, and Lauren (Alfredo) Perez; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen Kessler; daughter-in-law, Deb Kessler; and two sisters, Roni Hughes and Joan Butler. Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 21, 2022, at St. Jude Catholic Church, with calling one hour prior. Visitation also from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 20, 2022, at Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave., Fort Wayne (IN 46805). Burial will take place in Catholic Cemetery, Fort Wayne. Memorials may be made to John Chapman's Kiwanis Club or Parkview Hospice.