Kevin Michael Kessler

Kevin Michael Kessler 

Kevin Michael (Rusty) Kessler, a devoted father, husband, and son-in-law, passed away on Feb. 14, 2025 at the age of 67 surrounded by his family. 

As a physical therapist, Kevin dedicated his life to healing others. He also spent every waking hour when he wasn’t working loving and supporting his wife, their four sons, and their 6 grandchildren. 

Kevin is survived by his wife Laura Jean (Duff) along with their sons John (Katie), Patrick (Kelsey), Timothy, and Jarod Lawson, (Kelly); their grandchildren, Sydney, Jack, Graham, Caroline and Weston Kessler and Gavin Lawson. He is also survived by his brothers Dale (Cynthia), Keith (Diane), Tom and sister Deborah Thomas (Nelson) 

“He was always there to support our activities and help us with them in whatever way he could,” his son John said. “Whether it was coaching, transportation, making sure we had equipment, whatever he could do to help us. That was my dad. That’s how he was for everyone.” He was passionate about helping people, and helping them live a better life, be it his patients, his friends, or his family. John remembers his father in the freezing cold stands watching him during one of his early morning winter hockey games, and Kevin “caddying” going for him at a PGA Jr. event, picking up items as they fell out of his golf bag. 

Born on May 15, 1957 in St. Louis, Missouri, Kevin graduated from Cahokia Senior High School in 1975 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Maryville College St. Louis, School of Physical Therapy in 1983. In 1979, Kevin met his wife, Laura, and the two married on May 29, 1982. Together they operated an in-home therapy business for which he was the driving force as a physical therapist. “He was a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, who would make a friend wherever he went. Rusty never met a stranger,” Laura said. 

First and foremost, Kevin was a family man, often working two or three jobs. “He always found time for his children”, said his son, Tim. “Between working his butt off and helping Mom run a company, he always made time for us,” Tim said. “He’d clear his schedule for our soccer games. He would clear his schedule for time with us. Even for birthdays, he would always carve out time to be with us whenever we needed, and whenever it mattered. He was a best friend to me,” Tim added. “He was my coach; he was my mentor; he was just an incredible Dad.” 

His son, Patrick, recalled how his father told him to never quit as he coached him in soccer, from a young child all the way through championship games in high school. While growing up, Patrick and his father enjoyed fishing together, first learning to fish on a yellow Snoopy fishing pole. Many years later, when Patrick was looking for a creative way to tell his father that his wife was expecting their first child, he presented his parents with a package. Inside was the same type of fishing pole his father had given him. “So, when we arrived, I handed mom and dad the package and asked them to open it,” Patrick said. “There was the yellow snoopy fishing pole with the snoopy bobber saying we were expecting. “I said: Just like mine, dad; and he asked, ‘How did you remember?’ I said: How could I forget?”

Patrick cherished going duck and geese hunting every fall and winter with his father. He remembered how his father would light up as soon as he heard a Canadian goose honk, and how Kevin loved feeding their dog Molly treats and watching her retrieve game birds. “Dad was always telling jokes, stories, and quick to give trouble to everyone,” Patrick said. “He always kept the people in blind laughing and was first to offer to help with anything. I will think of dad with every group of mallards and divers that come through making the sound of jets passing overhead.” 

His son Jarod remembered how Kevin brought him into the family by inviting him to sit at the family dinner table. A running joke between them was that Kevin would also joke about how quickly Jarod ate. “It became so regular that he often followed the prayer with pretending to set a stopwatch to time me, asking if I would set a new record today,” Jarod said. Jarod said his favorite memory of Kevin is the wise counsel he provided while Jarod wrestled for several months with a difficult personal decision. “He brought a calm demeanor to a chaotic situation and reminded me no matter the choice I made, he supported me and was always in my corner, to not only support me, but protect me as one of his own children. Most of all that he loved me and was proud of the man I had become,” Jarod said. 

Beyond his immediate family, Rusty was also a caring uncle to his nephew and nieces, especially following the deaths of his brother- and sister-in-law Marc and Elizabeth Schogol in 2007 and 2012. Kevin was preceded in death by his parents William R. Kessler and Patricia June Kessler (Simpson) and his wife’s parents John Wesley Duff and Mary Duff (Blake). 

Family and friends are invited to Kevin’s visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 20 at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 2211 Clarkson Road in Chesterfield, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Dr. Kian Lim’s work toward a cure for pancreatic cancer via Siteman Cancer Center.

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“Dad always made time for everyone and rarely asked for time,” Patrick said. “He put our practices, games, time fishing, time in the duck blind, and family time always first! Dad always had advice and life experience to advise me on what to do although I didn’t always understand at the time. I understand it now. “Love unconditionally, say thank you often, and help others any chance you get!”