James William Kessel, Sr.

James William Kessel, Sr., age 85 of Ripley, Ohio, died Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Clermont Mercy Hospital in Batavia, Ohio.  He was a retired truck driver from Pepsi in Ripley and a United States Army Korean War Veteran.  Mr. Kessel was born October 5, 1930 in Cadiz, Ohio the son of the late Joseph and Nettie (Evans) Kessel.  He was also preceded in death by his stepmother – Hilda Kessel; one son – Michael Kessel; one grandson – Kenneth Kessel; three great-grandchildren – James, Macon and Abigail Brunson; three brothers – Bruce Higle, Robert and Richard Kessel; three sisters – Joanna Hilterbrand, Kay McFarland and Betty Lou Kessel.

Mr. Kessel is survived by his loving wife of sixty-four years – Naomi Mae (Cook) Kessel; four children – James W. Kessel, Jr. and wife Bonnie of Arlington, Georgia, Richard Kessel and wife Carolyn of Ripley, Ohio, Rhonda Allen and husband Faron of Aberdeen, Ohio and Jackie Bishop and husband Terry of Carlisle, Pennsylvania; eight grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; three sisters – Georgia Loper of Columbus, Ohio, Emily Houdek of Ripley, Ohio and Susan Kessel of Dow City, Iowa; two brothers – John Higle of Columbus, Ohio and Roger Kessel of Dow City, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, May 23, 2016 at Cahall Funeral Home in Ripley, Ohio.  Rev. James Settles will officiate.  Visitation will be from 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. Monday, at the funeral home.  Interment will follow the funeral service in Red Oak Cemetery near Ripley with military honors being provided by the Courts-Fussnecker American Legion Post 367 of Ripley, Ohio.