KESLER, James O. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

WEST LEBANON — The Rev. James "Jim" O. Kesler, 70, West Lebanon, died at 9:40 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Specialty Hospital, Carmel. He was born Aug. 24, 1936 in Marshall, ill., the son of Willie and Nora (Davis) Kesler. He married Marilyn E. Morehead June 2, 1962 in College Church, Olivet Nazarene University. She survives. He was raised in Marshall, Ill. where he graduated from Marshall High School in 1954. He graduated from Divinity School at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Ill. in 1960 and was ordained an elder in the Church of the Nazarene in 1962. He and his wife successfully pastored churches at Ora, Knox, Portage, West Lebanon, and State Line, congregations, giving pastoral care and support to everyone with whom they came in contact with. “Dad and Mom Kesler” parented 14 foster children and two biological children. He worked as a truant officer and substitute teacher for Attica and Seeger schools for 20 years. He was past president of Indiana Attendance Officers Association. He was also a volunteer on the Potawatomi Board for many years. He was a member of the Covington Church of the Nazarene where he had been a pastor for six years. During summers he and his wife were devoted to children's ministries for various district assemblies, inner cities and boys and girls camps and Vacation Bible School programs doing puppeteering and scene-o-felt. He enjoyed collecting clowns, loved sports, especially the Fighting Illini and the Indianapolis Colts. He enjoyed going to the circus, the theater, traveling, bird watching and was an avid read. He and his wife organized and chaperoned the Christian Skate at Illini Skateland in Danville, Ill. for 15 years. He also served on the NMS District Council for many years. He received the distinguished service award for the Nazarene for Church Mission Society and Parish Ministry. He received the Attendance Officer of the Year Award from the Indiana State Teachers Association. Survivors, besides the wife, include: two daughters, Janice Kesler, West Lebanon and Denise (Troy) Routzahn, Attica; a son, Phil (Amy) Jackson, Danville, Ill.; and five grandchildren, Micaiah, Craig, and Colin Coffman, Williamsport and Christina and Walter Jackson, Danville, Ill. He leaves behind a large extended family whom he loved. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James O. Kesler II; a brother, Dale Kesler; and a sister, Ann Runyan. Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Saturday in West Lebanon Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Tom Hunter officiating. Burial was in Livingston Cemetery, Livingston, Ill. Grady Funeral Home, Williamsport, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the James O. Kesler II Memorial Scholarship Fund at Olivet Nazarene University, Kankakee, Ill. – jlr