Chester Kessel

MURPHYSBORO -- Chester DeWitt "Chep" Kessel, 100, passed away at 5:20 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, 2012, in Rehab and Care Center of Jackson County.

He was born Oct. 15, 1911, in Murphysboro to Edward W. and Mollie (Grosvenor) Kessel.

Chester married Ellen Allene Tuthill on Jan. 12, 1935, in Murphysboro and she preceded him in death March 17, 1998, after sharing 63 years of marriage.

Survivors include daughters, Dolores Cavaness of Murphysboro, Jan and husband, Pat Etherton, of Murphysboro, Saralee K. Ward Bryant and Gloria "Gee Gee" Abbott and husband, Albert Fleming, of Hawaii; grandchildren, Steve and wife, Audra McBride, of Murphysboro, Sherri and husband, Dale Schimpf Jr., of Murphysboro, Richard Abbott of Wisconsin, Danielle and husband, Trent French, of California and Christine E. Ward-Osinga and husband, Doug Osinga, of Murphysboro; and great-grandchildren, Koral McBride, Connor McBride, Carleigh Schimpf, Colin Wisinski and Cameron Wisinski, all of Murphysboro.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ellen Allene Kessel; grandson, Bret Cavaness; sons –in-law, Cary Cavaness, Homer L. "Butch" Ward Jr. and John L. Bryant Jr.; dear friend, Ronald Flowers; and a baby girl, Charlotte D. Kessel.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Murphysboro, Kiwanis and was grand marshall at Murphysboro Apple Festival in 1997.

He worked 16 years on the railroad, and 20 years for Murphysboro Park District. He was the recreation director, and started the Khoury League in 1952.

Chep holds the record for attending the most American Legion Senior World Series games, for 48 consecutive years. He attended his first games in 1961 in Hastings, Neb., and ended the run in 2009 in Shelby, N.C.

In 1973, Chester and his wife, Allene, started Senior Citizens Center on North 14th Street in Murphysboro. Allene was the director for five years and started the kitchen band, while Chep made most of the instruments.

In 1993, Kessel received the Jack Panzeca Memorial Fan of the Year award from the American Legion.

In 2002, the baseball field at Riverside Park was named Chep Kessel Field. Kessel helped create the field and dug some of the holes for the right field standards.

Kessel was the announcer at the field, umpired, was the grounds keeper and made the first electric scoreboard.

Chep amassed 5,113 scorecards. The last one is from the 2009 American Legion 25th District Championship game. The contest, which pitted Murphysboro against Marion, was played July 17, 2009.

There will be private memorial services at a later date. Per his wish, Chester will be cremated.

Memorials may be made to first Baptist Church of Murphysboro or Senior Citizens Center of Murphysboro.

Walker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.