Everett Leroy Keesler

Everett Leroy Keesler, 87, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026. He is now at rest with his Heavenly Father. He was born June 19, 1938, to Lyle and Gladys Keesler in North Platte, Nebraska. He was an only child.

In his early days of childhood, he lived in a sod house with his parents and grandparents in the Sandhills of Nebraska. He rode his horse to a one room county schoolhouse in Ringgold, Nebraska. Later they moved to Beaver City, Nebraska where he graduated from High School in 1956. He played on the high school football team.

He attended Kearney State College for one year and went to Central College in McPherson, Kansas for one year and played on the basketball team. There he met and married Shirley Hoke on March 13, 1959.

Their first home was in McCook, Nebraska, where their son, Douglas Ray Keesler was born. Two years after that, they lived in Ewing, Nebraska, where their daughter, Sharla Jean Keesler was born. They moved to Douglas, Wyoming, to higher elevation for their daughter’s asthma. While in Douglas, Wyoming, he worked in the mountains in a sawmill. After a few years they moved to Oxford, Nebraska, where they lived to raise pigs, sheep, and chickens and Everett was a Butcher at a locker plant. The next move was to Nebraska City, Nebraska, where Everett started his own construction company called Keesler Construction Company. He built new homes in the 1970’s - 1980’s. He and his wife later moved to Texas where he sold insurance and was man of the year, as well as winning several trips. They traveled to the Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Alaska, and many other places. In 1990 they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana and he drove an eighteen-wheeler for several years. In 2006, after having cancer, he took 2 years off from working after his first retirement and then went back to work for Walmart where he worked 16 years before his second retirement July 2024.

He was a member of The Journey Free Methodist Church. He enjoyed many activities, including leatherwork, hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, and gardening. Together with his wife, Shirley, they made peanut brittle and fudge to share with family and friends which took place over six years and was one of his favorite things to do.

He is survived by his wife, Shirley (Hoke) Keesler; son, Douglas (Dianna) Keesler; daughter, Sharla (Jim) Bryant; grandchildren, Andrew (Sara) Keesler, Shane Keesler, Chad (Ginny) Keesler, Robin Keesler, and Morgan Keesler; six great grandchildren—Maddison, Martin, Alaina, Truman, Greyson, and Arlene; special cousin, Norman (Marlene) Keesler; and many relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held April 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm at The Journey Free Methodist Church, 3536 West Wallen Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 with gathering and visitation to begin at 1:00 pm at the church. Please feel free to wear casual dress including sports attire. Preferred memorials, in Everett’s memory, may be made to The Journey Free Methodist Church. Please visit www.klaehnfahlmeltonfunerals.com to leave condolences.