Albert LeRoy Kessel, a resident of Dewar, died Feb. 13, 2016 in Gresham, Oregon at the age of 81. Al was born Oct. 14, 1934 in Ava, Ill., to Homer Albert Kessel and Frieda Ione (Benson) Kessel. He attended school in Ava and graduated from Sequoia High School in Redwood City, Calif. Al married Frances L. Smith Oct. 6, 1961 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They moved to Dewar from California in 1993 and remained in Dewar for many years until moving to Oregon where he remained until his death.
Al was President and CEO of Airport Fabrication, Inc. Al began his business from the ground up in Gardena, California with his wife Frances as bookkeeper. After leaving his current job Al and Frances decided it was go in all the way or bust. They took out a small loan against their home and began building their business totally on their own to a great success. Later they moved the business to La Mirada, California.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Frances in 2013 also by one son Waymon Maghe. Also by a brother Daniel Kessel and two sisters Doris Emerson and Delores Englehart.
He is survived by a son, Harold Maghe and wife Ilene, their children, Dywayne, Clarice, Alex, Michael, Lorrenda and Ellie all of California; four daughters: Karen Thomason and her children, Lonnie, Tony, and Brian all of California,, Rosanna Jones and husband Don, and children Alicia and Chris Boatright, and their grandchildren, Kyle, Brianna and William all of Dewar, also Rosanna's daughter Amy Hayes and husband Tim and their children Collin and Chloe of all of Dewar, also Rosanna's daughter Alora Parker of California, Florene Lindemuth and husband Adam and their children Shannon and Michael Robinson and their children Brandon, Benjamin, Denin, and Owen, also by Florene's son Edward Jacome and wife Emily and their son Joseph of Dewar and Lynn Duke and husband Alex along with their children, Amelia and Laura Frances; son, Daniel Kessel and wife Karen and their children Robert and Nicholas all of California; brother, Donald Kessel of Redding, Calif.; three sisters: Dorothy Christianson of Beaverton, Oregon, Barbara Carley of Sandy, Oregon and Cheryl Birdsong of Roseville, California; also by a host of nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives.
Pallbearers will be Alex Duke, Daniel Kessel, Mark Parker, Rusty Johnson, Orfil Cortez, and Chris Boatright. Honorary pallbearers will be, James Stephens, Butch Norman, John Durbin, Bill Johnson, Billy Green, Nicholas Kessel, and Robert Kessel.
Viewing will be Friday, February 19, 2016 from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at Integrity Funeral Service.
Funeral Services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Dewar First Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Vance officiating. Interment will follow in Kessel Cemetery under direction of Integrity Funeral Service.