Amasa Rust Kessel

Amasa Rust Kessel, 84, passed away peacefully at home, on Sunday, March 17,2019 in Okemos, Michigan. Rust, his preferred name, was born March 4, 1935 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Betty (Rust) and Kenneth Ferguson. He graduated from Avon Old Farms in Avon, Conn, where he was captain of the soccer team for three years and a proud member of the Nimrod club that tapped trees each spring for the school’s private label maple syrup. Rust received a degree in engineering from R.I.T. and a business degree from Michigan State University. As a student, he earned money in a sport he loved, ice skating, by sharpening skates, and driving the Zamboni at Demonstration hall. That was augmented by stringing tennis rackets at Vandervorts.

Flying was Rust’s most singular passion. He flew for North Central and Consumers Power. Rust worked with the Federal Aviation Authority, and authored several airworthy directives, one specifically on fuel tank safety. He was instrumental in starting General Aviation, the largest of only two fixed base operators at what was then Capital City Airport, exclusively selling Beechcraft airplanes. Licensed to fly at the age of fifteen, he was a skilled pilot, accruing over thirteen thousand hours, and was current when he passed away. He was also vice-president of Wilson Cypress Company of Palatka, Florida, for several years. In addition, he was in real estate management, and ran an IT business. Rust used his computer skills to volunteer for countless years, helping manage computers at Ele’s Place, Angel House, and Wesleyan Christian Academy on Grand Cayman.

An avid fan of pyrotechnics, Rust assisted with the Fourth of July fireworks in Saginaw, from 1960-1974, and was in charge of the Higgins Lake Boat Club displays for years. He was an accomplished downhill skier, an excellent sailor, and commodore of HLBC. He loved spending time at his cottage on Higgins Lake, and scuba diving in Grand Cayman waters and exotic oceans around the world. Rust was proud to be a member of the Automobile Club of Lansing, the Saginaw Club, the Higgins Lake Boat Club, and the Cottage Grove Association.

Rust was predceded in death by his parents, his step-father, Ben Kessel, his sister, Katherine Ferguson Iler, and his brother, David Knowlton Kessel. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of over thirty years, Susan Blanchet-Kessel. He is survived by his daughters, Cammie Williams, Katherine Allman, and Kimberly Clark; several grandchildren; his siblings Henry Pletscher, Debbie Cox and his sister-in-law, Jan Kessel; several nieces and nephews.

Private Funeral services have already been held. In lieu of flowers, please consider Higgins Lake Foundation P.O. Box 753, Roscommon, Mi 48653, or Ele’s Place, a children’s grief center, 1145 W. Oakland Ave, Lansing, MI 48915-2000.