Richard P. Kessler

RICHARD PHILLIP KESSLER

Richard Phillip Kessler was born July 18, 1927 in Birmingham, Alabama and departed this life on December 20, 2022 at Aspire Senior Living in Oak Grove, Missouri at the age of 95 years, 5 months and 2 days.

He was the son of John Phillip and Evelyn Beatrice (Brown) Kessler.

Richard spent his younger years in Birmingham, Alabama graduating from Phillips High School. On June 11, 1945, Richard enlisted in the United States Navy, proudly serving his country during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

In 1948, Richard was introduced to young women named Audrey Jean Groom and, on June 30, 1950, they were united in marriage in Smithton, Illinois. To this union three children, Richard Dean, Laura Marie and Sally Sue, were born. The Kessler family continued to live in Illinois where Richard worked for White Baking Company until 1965 when he took a position with the Reliable Life Insurance Company and the Kessler family moved to Florissant, Missouri. In 1972, Richard was promoted to sales manager in the Kansas City area and the Kessler family moved to Raytown, Missouri. Richard went on to become a successful leading manager with the Reliable Insurance Company retiring in 1989. In 2001, Richard and Audrey moved to Pleasant Hill, Missouri to make their home. Audrey Jean Kessler preceded Richard in death on January 8, 2018 and Richard continued to live in Pleasant Hill until October of this year when he moved to Aspire Senior Living in Oak Grove, Missouri.

Richard had been an active member of the First Baptist Church of Raytown, Missouri where he served as a Deacon and, for fifteen years, taught the severely disabled class at the church. In 2005, after their move to Pleasant Hill, Richard and Audrey became active in the Lee’s Summit Bible Church.

The two most important things in Richard’s life were his family and his church. He lived a life of service to the Lord and was an example to his family of a life well lived.

In his spare time, Richard enjoyed woodworking and was a huge Alabama Crimson Tide Fan.

In addition to his wife Audrey, Richard was preceded in death by his parents, John Phillip and Evelyn Beatrice Kessler; one daughter, Laura Marie (Kessler) Langston; one brother, Dr. John Douglas Kessler and one sister, Anne Mann.

He is survived by one son, Richard Dean Kessler of Leawood, Kansas; one daughter, Sally Secchio and husband Troy of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; two sisters, Mary Evelyn Williams of Arlington Heights, Illinois and Hulda Faye Landes and husband Larry of Schaumburg, Illinois; five grandchildren, Emily Beth Kessler-Frazier and husband Michael of Leawood, Kansas, Erin Rachel Kessler of Topeka, Kansas, Karl Eric Wolf of Wichita, Kansas, and Dr. Christian Troy Secchio of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; three great-grandchildren, Christian Wolf, Collen Wolf and Madyson Wolf, other relatives and many friends.

A private graveside service will be held.