Benny L.

Kessler

Benny L. Kessler passed away on November 10, 2026, at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, Missouri. He was born on December 4, 1933, in Cowden, Illinois. He passed away with his beloved daughter and son-in-law, Tammy and Larry Jackson, granddaughter, Olyv, and his fellow veteran comrades by his side.

Benny was a precise and very outgoing person who made a lasting impression on the people around him. His work took him many places and into many kinds of jobs, but the Switzer Plant in Rolla, Missouri, was the place he loved most. He was a self-taught tool and die maker, and he often said he would have liked to have been a woodworker, though he felt the measurements were not precise enough. Throughout his career, he was also a gunsmith, and he made many rings for the children in his family.

Many of Benny’s jobs became lifelong hobbies. He loved building model airplanes and spent many days at the Rolla National Airport in Vichy, Missouri. He cared for the flying area with his mower and made sure the ground was perfectly rolled every spring. He did such a fine job caring for the area that it was dedicated to him in his honor.

Benny also loved fishing and enjoyed taking his bass boat to the locks at Bagnall Dam at Lake of the Ozarks, where he and his family also camped and water skied. At home, he loved growing tomatoes, and some reached eight feet tall. Those who knew him well could smile at the thought that he seemed to discover a new hobby every ten years. He also enjoyed spending time with his coffee club at Burger King and McDonald’s, where friendship and conversation were part of the day.

Benny was united in marriage to Beverly June Cramer in 1956. Later in life, he was wed to Pat Perry. He also married Bettie Pearline Eads on  April 26, 1980, where they made their home in St. James, Missouri for over 20 years.

He is survived by his daughters, Tammy Sue Jackson and her husband, Larry of Salem, Missouri and Joetta Ramos and her husband, Joseph of Dallas, Texas; and step-daughters, Lesa Lay of Springfield, Missouri and Sandy Vandiver of Springfield, Missouri. He is also survived by his sister, Sharon Goen and her husband, Lee of Centralia, Illinois, and by his sister-in-law, Mary Jo Kessler of Altamont, Illinois.

Benny’s family also includes his grandchildren, Jordon White of St. James, Missouri, Amanda Veach of Salem, Missouri, Alex Vandiver of Springfield, Missouri, Andrew Vandiver of Florida, and Zoe Terryberry . He was further blessed with great-grandchildren, Gracie White and Lane White, both of St. James, Missouri, and Olyv Veach of Salem, Missouri. He will be remembered with love by all of them, and by the many friends and companions who shared in the everyday moments of his life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leohn Kessler; his mother, Violet (Dunaway) Kessler; wife, Beverly June Cramer; wife, Pat Perry; wife, Bettie Pearline Eads; and his brother, Bruce Kessler.

Benny’s life was marked by skill, hard work, curiosity, and enjoyment of simple pleasures. He leaves behind many memories of craftsmanship, conversation, time outdoors, and devotion to the things he loved. He will be dearly missed and warmly remembered.

Benny Kessler will lie in state at 1:00 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2026 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri.

Masonic Services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 13, 2026 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri. Burial will be at the St. James Cemetery, with a graveside funeral and full military honors. Mick Thrasher will officiate at the service. Pallbearers will be Larry Jackson, Steve Steelman. Nathan Goen, Joseph Ramos, Danny Kessler, and Jason Cote. Honorary pallbearer will be Steve Woofford.

Online condolences and floral offerings may be entered at www.jonesfunerals.com

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, Missouri