Kenneth L. Kessen, age 82, of 534 S. Fourth St., Coldwater, Ohio, died at 12:35 AM on Saturday, February 05, 2011 at Briarwood Village, Coldwater, Ohio. He was born June 17, 1928 in Coldwater, Ohio to Peter & Alvina (Schneider) Kessen. On July 03, 1951 he married Lucille (Heitkamp) in St. Henry, Ohio, and she died September 16, 2004. He is survived by five children, Judy (Ron) Roessner and Jerry (Joan) Kessen, both of Coldwater, Ohio, Cindy (Randy) Bennett of Celina, Ohio, Shirley (Kenny) Dammeyer of St. Marys, Ohio and Michele (Jerry) Hirsch of Celina, Ohio, seven grandchildren, Miranda (Matt) Knapke, Kelly (Allen) Hartings, Jared (Michelle) Roessner, Kristina (Zach) Pohlman, Keith (Michelle) Kessen, Zachary Hirsch and Cayden Hirsch, six great-grandchildren, Ryan Knapke, Jenna Knapke, Jacob Hartings, Justin Hartings, Brayden Pohlman and Breanna Pohlman, a brother, Leroy (Phyllis) Kessen of Coldwater, Ohio and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ivo (Millie) Heitkamp and Thelma Heitkamp, both of St. Henry, Ohio, Mary Alice (Julius) Ahrens of Maria Stein, Ohio, Joan Reigelsperger, Roseann (Ivo) Schmidt and Alvan (Linda) Heitkamp, all of Coldwater, Ohio, Dorothy (Art) Brunswick of Beavercreek, Ohio, Charlene (Don) Mikesell of Greenville, Ohio, Ruth Frantz of Kettering, Ohio and Dan Heitkamp of Dayton, Ohio. He is preceded in death by his wife and parents, a brother, Ralph Kessen and three brothers-in-law, Louis Reigelsperger, Louis Heitkamp and Lavern Heitkamp. Retired from the former New Idea Plant in Coldwater after 47 years. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Coldwater American Legion, V.F.W and Knights of Columbus, was an avid bowler and a member of the Celina Moose Lodge and the Coldwater Eagles where he was a past president, served as treasurer for 35 years and bartended for over 35 years. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, February 09, 2011 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater, Ohio. Burial will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater, Ohio. Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home-Coldwater on Tuesday from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM and on Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM. Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.
