Submitted by: Dan Rich

Helen Margaretta Kesler

July 4, 1913 - Sept. 8, 2008

South Bend Tribune 9/11/2008
SOUTH BEND - Helen Margaretta Kesler, 95, of Mayflower Road, South Bend, passed away at 3:45 p.m. on Monday, September 8, 2008, in Caring Junction of Mishawaka. Mrs. Kesler was born on July 4, 1913, in Freeland, PA, to the late Joseph and Theresa M. (Brzezinski) Karpowitz. She had been a lifelong resident of South Bend. On July 28, 1934, in South Bend, in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, she married Orval Dean Kesler, who preceded her in death on April 7, 1986. Two sisters, Bertha Ferguson and Theresa Burklow, and one brother, Joseph Wilkeson, also preceded her in death. Mrs. Kesler was employed with the South Bend Bait Company from 1929-1940. She and her husband owned and operated Kesler's IGA Grocery Store at the corner of Mayflower and SR 23. They also added on to the original barber shop where Dean's Service Center is now located. More importantly, Mrs. Kesler was a wonderful homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. Mrs. Kesler has been a lifelong member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church where she proudly taught Sunday school and was extremely active with many organizations within the church. She was proud of winning the spelling bee championship at Muessel School and was able to participate in the state finals. She had wonderful penmanship and was a strong mathematician. She was recognized as Volunteer of the Year at Goodwill Industries. Mrs. Kesler is survived by her daughter and two sons, Diana and Sheldon Ericson of Fort Wayne, Dean and Peg Kesler of South Bend, Doug and Phyllis Kesler of Mishawaka; seven grandchildren, Karol Kesler, Kathy (Tim) Lykowski, Marc Ericson, Kale Ericson, Todd (Christine) Kesler, Brad Eakins and Brent Kesler; and eight great-grandchildren, Lindsay, Khloe, Jon, Dustin, Kaitlin, Mary Kate, Meagan Elizabeth and Emma Victoria.

Private services will be held on Friday, September 12, in the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, South Bend. Rev. Tim Knauff, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, will officiate. Graveside services and burial will follow at Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Helen M. Kesler may be made to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 51900 Mayflower Road, South Bend, IN 46628.