Obituary of Robert George Kessler

Robert George Kessler

On April 23rd, 2024, the angels came to bring our dad into eternal peace. Robert George Kessler was an amazing husband, father, papa and great-papa, as well as being a friend and helper to everyone he met.

Bob was born on October 25th, 1932, the fourth of seven children born to Edward George Kessler and Mary Catherine (Langenberg) Kessler. Mary Therese (eventually Sr. Donna Marie), Larry, John, Bob, Virginia, Tom and Donna were raised in Neenah, WI, and Bob graduated from St. Mary’s High School in nearby Menasha. He married his love, Nancy Carolyn Toman, in 1955. They were married over 66 years and raised two well-loved children, Tanya Marie Kessler and Anthony (Tony) James Kessler. They were also blessed with three granddaughters, Elizabeth Belle Johnson, Alana Mary Kessler and India Marie Charles, as well as a great-granddaughter, Sofia Belle DesJardin and another great-granddaughter who will arrive in September.

Bob’s first full-time job was at American Can in Neenah. In 1965, he and Nancy moved to New Brighton, MN and he began working for Champion Packaging. He worked his way up to Chemist/Engineer, even though he never went to college. He was a natural inventor and owns over a dozen patents while there, some of which we all used every day.

Bob always believed in a life of faith and service. He was a Boy Scout leader, a growth group leader, a volunteer at the Listening House homeless shelter, a CCD teacher, a singer in both his church choir and the Archdiocesin choir, a donator of over 70 gallons of blood, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a medical driver and a Meals of Wheels driver.

He and Nancy retired to a lake home in Exeland, WI, a home they enjoyed for 21 years. Although he struggled with dementia for the last few years, he was always clear about the important things, the love of God and family. He always had hugs and words of love.