1923
Allen
2016
Allen Kessler
May 14, 1923 — April 18, 2016
Allen C. Kessler, 92, Olathe, Kansas passed away April 18, 2016 at Aberdeen Village.
He was born on a farm near Corder, Missouri on May 14, 1923.
After graduation from High School, he attended Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri
and worked for a short time for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He entered the U.S. Army in February 1943 and was assigned to the 87th Infantry Division. His division saw action in the European Theater as part of the U.S. Third Army under General George S. Patton. The division participated in three major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge.
He was discharged from the Army in January 1946 and entered the life insurance business downtown Kansas City with National Fidelity Life. He attended the Institute of Insurance Marketing at Southern Methodist University and soon became a leading producer, leading his company in sales for many years. In 1970, when the company was sold, he established Kessler Associates with his son, Bruce Kessler, representing several major life insurance companies. He was actively engaged in the life insurance business for more than 65 years, retiring at age 85.
He was a former member of The National Association of Life Underwriters, The American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters, The Million Dollar Round Table and The Estate Planning Society of Kansas City. He was a Past President of the Kansas City Chapter of The National Association of Life Underwriters.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Steffens on July 9, 1944. This was wartime marriage just four months prior to going to the battlefields of Europe. The marriage endured for 71 years until his death. His words: “The best thing that ever happened to me was marrying Evelyn”.
He was a lifelong Lutheran, a Charter Member and Past President of Zion Lutheran Church, Prairie Village, Kansas. At the time of his death, he was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas.
Allen was preceded in death by an infant son, James Douglas Kessler; a brother, Robert Kessler and a sister, Catherine Dittmer. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Kessler; son Bruce Kessler of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Frank Toman of Houston, Texas; grandchildren: Matthew Toman of Austin, Texas and Ashley Toman of Houston/Los Angeles; brother Kenneth Kessler and his wife, Martha, of Scottsdale, Arizona; sister, Jeanie Schlesselman and her husband, Leo, of Overland Park, Kansas; and a sister-in-law, Delpha Kessler of Flower Mound, Texas.
A Visitation will be held from 1:00 -2:00pm Sunday April 24th at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 91st and Lamar, Overland Park, Kansas followed by a funeral service at 2:00pm. Burial will be Monday April 25th at 12:00pm in The Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, Missouri. Memorial contributions are suggested to Bethany Lutheran Church.
His words were “I have lived a wonderful life of service to God, country, family, and clients.” Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com.
He was born on a farm near Corder, Missouri on May 14, 1923.
After graduation from High School, he attended Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri
and worked for a short time for the U.S. Corps of Engineers. He entered the U.S. Army in February 1943 and was assigned to the 87th Infantry Division. His division saw action in the European Theater as part of the U.S. Third Army under General George S. Patton. The division participated in three major battles, including the Battle of the Bulge.
He was discharged from the Army in January 1946 and entered the life insurance business downtown Kansas City with National Fidelity Life. He attended the Institute of Insurance Marketing at Southern Methodist University and soon became a leading producer, leading his company in sales for many years. In 1970, when the company was sold, he established Kessler Associates with his son, Bruce Kessler, representing several major life insurance companies. He was actively engaged in the life insurance business for more than 65 years, retiring at age 85.
He was a former member of The National Association of Life Underwriters, The American Society of Chartered Life Underwriters, The Million Dollar Round Table and The Estate Planning Society of Kansas City. He was a Past President of the Kansas City Chapter of The National Association of Life Underwriters.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Steffens on July 9, 1944. This was wartime marriage just four months prior to going to the battlefields of Europe. The marriage endured for 71 years until his death. His words: “The best thing that ever happened to me was marrying Evelyn”.
He was a lifelong Lutheran, a Charter Member and Past President of Zion Lutheran Church, Prairie Village, Kansas. At the time of his death, he was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas.
Allen was preceded in death by an infant son, James Douglas Kessler; a brother, Robert Kessler and a sister, Catherine Dittmer. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Kessler; son Bruce Kessler of Overland Park, Kansas; daughter and son-in-law Barbara and Frank Toman of Houston, Texas; grandchildren: Matthew Toman of Austin, Texas and Ashley Toman of Houston/Los Angeles; brother Kenneth Kessler and his wife, Martha, of Scottsdale, Arizona; sister, Jeanie Schlesselman and her husband, Leo, of Overland Park, Kansas; and a sister-in-law, Delpha Kessler of Flower Mound, Texas.
A Visitation will be held from 1:00 -2:00pm Sunday April 24th at the Bethany Lutheran Church, 91st and Lamar, Overland Park, Kansas followed by a funeral service at 2:00pm. Burial will be Monday April 25th at 12:00pm in The Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville, Missouri. Memorial contributions are suggested to Bethany Lutheran Church.
His words were “I have lived a wonderful life of service to God, country, family, and clients.” Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Allen Kessler, please visit our flower store.