Rev. Maurice E. Kessler  

NORTH MANCHESTER — The Rev. Maurice E. Kessler, 93, Timbercrest Senior Living Community, North Manchester, formerly of Akron, died Feb. 27, 2008, at Timbercrest Senior Living Community in North Manchester.

He was born Oct. 12, 1914, in Grand Rapids, Mich., the son of Erven Kessler and Cora Bassett. He was married Sept. 5, 1938, in Terre Haute, to Marjorie E. Bolsen. She passed away Feb. 28, 1997.

He was a United Methodist Church pastor in the Northern Indiana Conference. He graduated from Columbia City High School in 1933, and in 1934, he received a Rector Scholarship for four years to DePauw University, where he graduated cum laude in 1938. He graduated from the Boston University School of Theology in 1941. He served United Methodist Churches in the Northern Indiana Conference and retired in 1980 after serving 44 years. He served the following churches: Bethel United Methodist Church, Anderson; Carmel United Methodist Church; Warren United Methodist Church; Upland United Methodist Church; Bunker Hill United Methodist Church; Akron United Methodist Church; Elwood Grace United Methodist Church; Muncie High Street United Methodist Church; Frankton United Methodist Church; Culver Emmanuel United Methodist Church and Roanoke United Methodist Church. After retirement, he was the pastor emeritus at the Akron United Methodist Church.

He was a member of the Akron Lions Club. He had the highest license in the federal government as an amateur ham radio operator. In 1991, he received his 60-year pin. His call letters were N M 9 K. He was also a member of the Astronomical Club in Warsaw, Ind.

Survivors include two daughters, Alona (husband, Randall) Leininger of Akron, and Miriam (husband, Stephen) Sumner of Anderson; four grandchildren, Karl (wife, Melanie) Leininger of Zionsville, Lael (husband, Chris) DuBois of Plainfield, Chad (wife, Cassie) Sumner of Fishers, and Julie Sumner of Anderson; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Mabel Cretcher; and two brothers, Lewis and Arthur Kessler.

Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Akron United Methodist Church, 121 N. Mishawaka St., Akron, with the Revs. Harold L. Leininger and Karen Ottjes officiating. Entombment will be in Gardens of Memory Cemetery, Muncie.

Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at Timbercrest Senior Living Community, 2201 East St., North Manchester, and from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday at Hartzler Funeral Home Akron, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, and 1/2 hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.