- Date Of Birth: June 29, 1931
- Date Of Death: December 20, 2013
- State: Iowa
Marion Elsie Kessel was born June 29, 1931 at home in rural Dexter Township, Mower county, Minnesota to George Fred and Elsie Mary Charolette (Studer) Schwartz, youngest of ten children. She passed away Friday, December 20, 2013 at the Lucas County Health Center in Chariton, Iowa at the age of 82 years.
Marion graduated high school with the Class of 1949. June 16, 1955, she married Donald Keith Kessel and to this union three sons were born: Dale, David, and Daniel. After attending college, at Mankato State Teacher’s College, she taught grade school in several rural Minnesota schools. Following marriage and moving to Eagle Grove, Iowa, she was an active farm wife. After her children were all in school, she began working as a cook. First at Brian’s Restaurant, followed by the Rotary Ann Nursing home in Eagle Grove. After moving to rural Melrose in 1976, she worked at the Chariton Manor until retiring in 2002. After her husband retired from farming, they moved to Russell in 1984. She lived there until she suffered a stroke this summer. She maintained her independence, driving herself to a doctor’s appointment the day before her stroke. Following rehabilitation she lived at Chariton Manor until the week of her death.
Marion enjoyed gardening, while living on the farm, she would regularly can hundreds of jars of vegetables.
She was a life- long Lutheran.
Marion was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Keith Kessel; her parents, Fred and Elsie (Studer) Schwartz; her sister, Caroline
Beckman; her brothers, Ervin, William, Earl, Henry, Ray, and Elmer Schwartz.
She is survived by her children, Dale Kessel (Russell, IA), David Kessel (St. Louis, MO), and Daniel Kessel (Russell, IA); her sister, Frieda Parrish (Albert Lea, MN); her brother, Norman Schwartz ( Austin, MN) and many nieces, nephews and close friends.
Chariton, IA
Chariton, Io
