James John Kessler

James John Kessler passed away on 8 February in Encinitas, CA. He was 94. He was born 3 Dec, 1919 in Bessemer, Alabama, the second son of Charles A. and Anne Popp Kessler. He was “James!” to wife Liz, “Jim” to everyone else.

Jim's character and sense of duty were forged in his early years growing up during the Depression in a devout German Catholic family in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the son of a railroad engineer and a formidable mother who gave young Jim a sense of place in his community and his responsibilities in it. He had fond memories of going barefoot all summer, the barn yard and animals at an uncle's farm in Cullman, AL and family Sunday dinners of platters of fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes, gravy, fresh picked strawberries and a pitcher of iced tea. He played baseball as a 16 year-old in a league of older players and doing well in that company was justly one of his proudest memories. He especially enjoyed family gatherings and one of his personal regrets later in life was not spending more time with his relatives, both his family's and his in-law's. A Jesuit college education at Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL which included all around athletics led to a BA in Business Administration in 1942.

After college Jim was anxious to get into the war effort and joined the US Navy, attended officer training, and to his great surprise and delight got exactly the assignment he most wanted: navigator on a cruiser. He was told by the man handing him his orders, “You lucky SOB. You're going to the most famous ship in the Navy, the USS Boise!” He spent the duration of the war on the Boise (CL-47) in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific theaters and quickly qualified as one of 4 officers, out of 120, as Officer of the Deck during battle stations. He became an expert navigator, a set of hard-earned skills acquired during fleet operations of which he was especially proud. Once as Gen. MacArthur's boat commander he was invited to go ashore “to see how the Army fought the war” and watched the General calmly take charge standing unprotected in an open field of fire to rally forces to take out a Japanese machine gun nest. Jim was happy just to get back to the Boise and stay there after that episode. He claimed that, “ I had it easy compared to what the infantry had to do.” He kept the Boise's official war diary which he claimed fixed “every day of the war in his memory.” He said, “I was kind of sorry to see the war end. It was just so interesting. Everything mattered. I couldn't imagine what would ever again be that important.”

Later Naval service entailed many training and shipboard assignments. He instigated and participated in various “morale boosting” schemes as XO aboard the USS Wrangell during extended sea duty due to the 1956 Suez Crisis. He was always a serious student and knew well the benefits of good training. He guided countless young recruits into Naval service which benefitted them as well as the Navy. He created a program to get sailors their HS diplomas while serving at sea, a program that later spread to the other armed forces.

After 26 years of service, Jim retired with a Captain's rank at age 49 but still running at All Ahead Full. His first retirement project was reconstructing a 150 year-old farmhouse across the road from his wife's parents' home in Johnsonville, NY. It was a 3 ½ year project and a beautiful home for them for 17 years. Against expected New England convention he painted the house barn red. The neighbors shook their heads but had to admit that it did look great. And Jim got about as much out of an acre of ground with his hard work as anyone could expect. He cultivated a large garden from which he harvested amazing quantities of vegetables including horseradish that could drop a strong man to one knee.

For something else to do waiting for the paint to dry, he started driving school buses and that required a First Aid Certificate. Learning that the local town doctor was about to retire and that the area would become dependent on the local volunteer ambulance service, he saw a crucial need for first responder training and upgrading of their equipment. He first took the training and then trained others. He organized fund raisers and got grants to obtain new equipment and a new ambulance. This developed into a 15 year commitment which certainly benefitted many emergency medical outcomes. For his efforts he was selected as one of 100 outstanding EMTs from NY state to serve during the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.

James and Liz were ambitious travelers and toured the USA by car and RV extensively for 25 years after retirement. They enjoyed poking around New England during the warmer months and escaped the worst of the winter by traveling to Florida or out west. Florida became home for 17 years starting in 1988 and in 2005 they moved to Placerville to be near their sons. He recently said that his best times were in Placerville. Earlier he said his happiest times were in upstate NY. And before that it was growing up in Birmingham. All this shows that he gave a lot of himself everywhere he went and was rewarded in return.

Liz, his wife of 60 years, passed away in May, 2006. Jim always took good care of Liz. After a mourning period he resumed his daily duty of rosary and morning mass with his friends in the Catholic church community in Placerville which defined his last years. Always one to take social action he joined the Legion of Mary and made regular calls on elderly and infirm parishioners often in the company of Bill Flynn. He became good friends with Louise Locken who proved a great companion on various European trips and cruises.

Jim will be remembered as a caring man who greeted all with a sweet enthusiastic smile. His easygoing manner, particularly warm handshake and joyful attitude put everyone in a better mood. Strangers were often immediately asked to, “Tell me about yourself.” His cheerful demeanor belied a strong work ethic, personal drive, sense of duty and faith which were always there. He was quietly proud, never boastful about his many experiences and accomplishments. He deflected praise with comments like, “I was only doing my job” or “I didn't know what I was getting into!” To him it was simply his duty whether to the navy, his neighbors or his church. That was where he got his personal satisfaction. He drove himself hard and stayed in shape with his morning workouts until his last few weeks. He was often heard to say, “Always do your best. You get out of things what you put into them. Be on time and don't quit.” He will be remembered well by many for taking time to listen and offer wise counsel. He enjoyed long chats around the dinner table reminiscing and swapping stories. He was a favorite uncle and the last of his generation. He was able to take a joke at his expense and if he was to be the center of attention he was probably more comfortable in that situation than being put on a pedestal. But that is where most people would place him. He certainly inspired many by his example and will be long remembered as A Good Man.

When his family gathered at his bedside and let him know we were all there he promptly said, “Well, get to work!” There was humor but also the always present impatience with idle hands. And perhaps delegating the future which was slipping out of his hands.

James is survived by his children, John (Karen) Kessler of Paradise, CA and James (Chrissie England) Kessler and granddaughter Mackenzie Kessler of Encinitas, CA.

Mass and funeral services will be held at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Placerville, CA starting with a vigil at 10:00AM followed by mass at 11:00 AM Saturday March 1, 2014.

Donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to: St. Patrick's Catholic Church, 3109 Sacramento Street, Placerville, CA 95667, Attn: Legion of Mary in honor of James Kessler.