January 31, 1932 – November 25, 2022
Francis (Frank) Otto Koessel was born January 31, 1932 to Rudolf (Rudy) Albert Frederick Koessel and Eleanora (Nora) Clara (Miller) Koessel in Ruth, Michigan. He was called Home to be with his Lord and Savior on November 25, 2022, exactly 76 years to the date of his father’s death. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, Springfield, Illinois and was ordained in 1961. Shortly after on August 20, 1961 he married his beautiful bride Margaret Ruth (Miller). They spent their years together in various parishes around the country including: Presho, South Dakota; Wilson, Dime Box, and Eden, Texas; Stanton and Kinde, Michigan; Otto, New York; Saratoga, Wyoming; Kimball, Nebraska; Brooksville, Florida and Deming, New Mexico. His retirement years were spent in Laramie, Wyoming, Aurora and Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Frank and Marge were blessed with four children, Kim, Karlee, Kevin and Keith.
Frank grew up with two sisters, Erna and Frieda, and a brother Eugene. Frank took on many jobs in his early years including time in the Merchant Marines, working in a drill factory, building cabinets, driving Coca-Cola and Nehi delivery trucks and other odd and end jobs. Before entering the seminary Frank got his teaching certificate from Concordia College and taught grade school for a couple of years. During Franks years in the ministry, he had many moonlighting jobs, including driving a 42-wheel milk truck and school bus, worked at a cement company, and was a volunteer fireman.
Franks faith in his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ led him to be a daily witness and share the Gospel with everyone he met. Even in retirement he continued to be the visitation Pastor in Brooksville, Florida and the part-time Pastor in Deming, New Mexico.
Frank is survived by daughter Kim Starr of Saratoga, Wyoming, favorite daughter Karlee (Dave) Shavlik of Littleton, Colorado, Keith (Vicki) Koessel of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Kandi Starr, Daniel (Kacey) Starr, Kristen Shavlik, Ryan (Jessenia) Shavlik, Andrew Shavlik, Cassie (Casey) Zaiko, Chelsea (Brad) Fassione, Amanda (Anthony) Bray, Kyle Koessel, Courtney (Dalton) Reese, great grandchildren: JJ, Addison, Christopher, Bristol, Shane, Devann, and Malachi; Brother Eugene (Sharon) Koessel, and sister Frieda (David) Schultz. He is reunited in Heaven with his wife Marge, son Kevin, son-in-law David Starr, and sister Erna Dorn.
Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10
