Estell Frederick Kesling, 88, Logansport, passed away at 12:32 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2020, in the intensive care unit of Logansport Memorial Hospital following a heart attack.
Born November 5, 1931, on the Kesling farm in Onward, Indiana, he was the fifth-born child of the late Fred Cecil and Anna Rozella (Fitzer) Kesling. Estell's parents were told that he would not survive. Despite all odds being against him from the start, not only did he survive but he proved that his strength over adversity knew no bounds time after time. He may have been small, but he was mighty.
When he was a young boy, his older sister, Mary Elizabeth, recognized his vocal talents and he sang in many contests with her as his accompanist on the piano. He won many of the talent contests losing only to the slightly older Captain Stubby, when he entered the competition.. At the age of ten, the Kesling family moved to Royal Center. Estell was a proud 1949 graduate of Royal Center High School.
In the fall of 1949, Estell went on to further his education at the School of Medical Technology and Phlebotomy in Elkhart. He worked hard to pay the $3-a-week rent for his room. Transportation to and from college was not a problem with Estell's ingenuity. He had a suitcase with Notre Dame taped on one side and Purdue taped on the other side and he would hitchhike for rides by turning the suitcase to denote his destination.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951, Estell enrolled as a pharmacy student at Purdue University. He was working nights at the downtown Muir's Drug Store in Lafayette when he met a beautiful young lady named Mary Dawn Layton. She was making Easter baskets in the center aisle when he first saw her and said to himself, "She is the one for me."
On August 25, 1956, in the Baptist Christian Church in Royal Center, Estell and Mary Dawn were united in marriage. Still in pharmacy school, Estell worked when he wasn't in class while Mary worked the following six years as the executive secretary to the administrator of the Wabash Valley Hospital. In 1955, Estell graduated from the Purdue School of Pharmacy with a Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Science.
Estell worked as the assistant manager at Hooks in Lafayette after graduation before moving back to Logansport. The couple were very frugal with money and managed to save enough during those lean years to build a 40' x 80' long building on Logansport's west side. In 1961, the store they co-founded, "Kesling's Drug Store", officially opened to the public. A few years later, Estell's brother, Norman G. Kesling, joined the business after graduating from Purdue as a pharmacist. Estell and Mary were quite a team - with Mary as the behind-the-scenes gal, doing the bookkeeping and helping Estell every step of the way. The business grew to be one of the largest independent family-owned drug stores in the state. Every day, 365 days a year, for 35 years, the Kesling family served the community until the business was sold in 1996.
Mary Dawn passed away on May 19, 2019, Estell said, "I never thought anyone would love me, considering my size, but she loved me - unconditionally - and she was my world." In spite of his great loss, Estell rallied for his family and was determined to be strong, once again, overcoming adversity. It was during this time that his faith in the Lord was strengthened and he found great peace in praying and growing closer in his walk with God.
Through his community involvement as a business man, Estell donated and sponsored many activities, especially those supporting Cass County youth - numerous Little League teams, 4-H, church groups - he always stepped up to the plate to give back to the community. Estell was a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge, the Royal Center Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star as well as a 50-year member of the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association. He was a life member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.
Surviving , are two sons and daughters-in-law, Curtis A. and Tobie Kesling, and Robert L. and Lisa Kesling, all of rural Logansport; four grandchildren, Erica (Justin) Zimmer, Ethan (Lexi) Kesling, Robert Kesling, and Anna Kesling; all of Logansport; one great-granddaughter, who he adored, Paisley Zimmer and a new great-grandson due any day, Kip Kesling. Estell was looking forward to Kip's arrival. Also surviving are his older brother, Irvin Kesling, of Kokomo and his youngest brother and best friend, Willis Kesling, of Royal Center; as well as several nieces and nephews. The Kesling family considered their employees at the drug store and more recently the many home health caregivers as extension of their family. They wish to thank those who made Estell's stay at home possible. He received loving care from a very compassionate group of people.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Fisher, and three brothers, Bobby Kesling, Dick Kesling, and Norman Kesling.
In honoring Estell's wishes, a private family funeral service was recently held at Fisher Funeral Chapel.
Burial followed in the Little Deer Creek Cemetery in Onward.
When people could not pay for their medicine due to hardships, Estell would note the amount and say, "I'll put it in the book." Up until just a few years ago, he was still receiving checks in the mail from people who never forgot his kindness. In his memory, find a way to pay it forward to those in need and make the world a kinder place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may also be made to the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.
You may share condolences and post memories for the family on his Tribute Wall at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com
Born November 5, 1931, on the Kesling farm in Onward, Indiana, he was the fifth-born child of the late Fred Cecil and Anna Rozella (Fitzer) Kesling. Estell's parents were told that he would not survive. Despite all odds being against him from the start, not only did he survive but he proved that his strength over adversity knew no bounds time after time. He may have been small, but he was mighty.
When he was a young boy, his older sister, Mary Elizabeth, recognized his vocal talents and he sang in many contests with her as his accompanist on the piano. He won many of the talent contests losing only to the slightly older Captain Stubby, when he entered the competition.. At the age of ten, the Kesling family moved to Royal Center. Estell was a proud 1949 graduate of Royal Center High School.
In the fall of 1949, Estell went on to further his education at the School of Medical Technology and Phlebotomy in Elkhart. He worked hard to pay the $3-a-week rent for his room. Transportation to and from college was not a problem with Estell's ingenuity. He had a suitcase with Notre Dame taped on one side and Purdue taped on the other side and he would hitchhike for rides by turning the suitcase to denote his destination.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951, Estell enrolled as a pharmacy student at Purdue University. He was working nights at the downtown Muir's Drug Store in Lafayette when he met a beautiful young lady named Mary Dawn Layton. She was making Easter baskets in the center aisle when he first saw her and said to himself, "She is the one for me."
On August 25, 1956, in the Baptist Christian Church in Royal Center, Estell and Mary Dawn were united in marriage. Still in pharmacy school, Estell worked when he wasn't in class while Mary worked the following six years as the executive secretary to the administrator of the Wabash Valley Hospital. In 1955, Estell graduated from the Purdue School of Pharmacy with a Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Science.
Estell worked as the assistant manager at Hooks in Lafayette after graduation before moving back to Logansport. The couple were very frugal with money and managed to save enough during those lean years to build a 40' x 80' long building on Logansport's west side. In 1961, the store they co-founded, "Kesling's Drug Store", officially opened to the public. A few years later, Estell's brother, Norman G. Kesling, joined the business after graduating from Purdue as a pharmacist. Estell and Mary were quite a team - with Mary as the behind-the-scenes gal, doing the bookkeeping and helping Estell every step of the way. The business grew to be one of the largest independent family-owned drug stores in the state. Every day, 365 days a year, for 35 years, the Kesling family served the community until the business was sold in 1996.
Mary Dawn passed away on May 19, 2019, Estell said, "I never thought anyone would love me, considering my size, but she loved me - unconditionally - and she was my world." In spite of his great loss, Estell rallied for his family and was determined to be strong, once again, overcoming adversity. It was during this time that his faith in the Lord was strengthened and he found great peace in praying and growing closer in his walk with God.
Through his community involvement as a business man, Estell donated and sponsored many activities, especially those supporting Cass County youth - numerous Little League teams, 4-H, church groups - he always stepped up to the plate to give back to the community. Estell was a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge, the Royal Center Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star as well as a 50-year member of the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association. He was a life member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.
Surviving , are two sons and daughters-in-law, Curtis A. and Tobie Kesling, and Robert L. and Lisa Kesling, all of rural Logansport; four grandchildren, Erica (Justin) Zimmer, Ethan (Lexi) Kesling, Robert Kesling, and Anna Kesling; all of Logansport; one great-granddaughter, who he adored, Paisley Zimmer and a new great-grandson due any day, Kip Kesling. Estell was looking forward to Kip's arrival. Also surviving are his older brother, Irvin Kesling, of Kokomo and his youngest brother and best friend, Willis Kesling, of Royal Center; as well as several nieces and nephews. The Kesling family considered their employees at the drug store and more recently the many home health caregivers as extension of their family. They wish to thank those who made Estell's stay at home possible. He received loving care from a very compassionate group of people.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Fisher, and three brothers, Bobby Kesling, Dick Kesling, and Norman Kesling.
In honoring Estell's wishes, a private family funeral service was recently held at Fisher Funeral Chapel.
Burial followed in the Little Deer Creek Cemetery in Onward.
When people could not pay for their medicine due to hardships, Estell would note the amount and say, "I'll put it in the book." Up until just a few years ago, he was still receiving checks in the mail from people who never forgot his kindness. In his memory, find a way to pay it forward to those in need and make the world a kinder place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may also be made to the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.
You may share condolences and post memories for the family on his Tribute Wall at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com
Estell Frederick Kesling, 88, Logansport, passed away at 12:32 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2020, in the intensive care unit of Logansport Memorial Hospital following a heart attack.
Born November 5, 1931, on the Kesling farm in Onward, Indiana, he was the fifth-born child of the late Fred Cecil and Anna Rozella (Fitzer) Kesling. Estell's parents were told that he would not survive. Despite all odds being against him from the start, not only did he survive but he proved that his strength over adversity knew no bounds time after time. He may have been small, but he was mighty.
When he was a young boy, his older sister, Mary Elizabeth, recognized his vocal talents and he sang in many contests with her as his accompanist on the piano. He won many of the talent contests losing only to the slightly older Captain Stubby, when he entered the competition.. At the age of ten, the Kesling family moved to Royal Center. Estell was a proud 1949 graduate of Royal Center High School.
In the fall of 1949, Estell went on to further his education at the School of Medical Technology and Phlebotomy in Elkhart. He worked hard to pay the $3-a-week rent for his room. Transportation to and from college was not a problem with Estell's ingenuity. He had a suitcase with Notre Dame taped on one side and Purdue taped on the other side and he would hitchhike for rides by turning the suitcase to denote his destination.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951, Estell enrolled as a pharmacy student at Purdue University. He was working nights at the downtown Muir's Drug Store in Lafayette when he met a beautiful young lady named Mary Dawn Layton. She was making Easter baskets in the center aisle when he first saw her and said to himself, "She is the one for me."
On August 25, 1956, in the Baptist Christian Church in Royal Center, Estell and Mary Dawn were united in marriage. Still in pharmacy school, Estell worked when he wasn't in class while Mary worked the following six years as the executive secretary to the administrator of the Wabash Valley Hospital. In 1955, Estell graduated from the Purdue School of Pharmacy with a Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Science.
Estell worked as the assistant manager at Hooks in Lafayette after graduation before moving back to Logansport. The couple were very frugal with money and managed to save enough during those lean years to build a 40' x 80' long building on Logansport's west side. In 1961, the store they co-founded, "Kesling's Drug Store", officially opened to the public. A few years later, Estell's brother, Norman G. Kesling, joined the business after graduating from Purdue as a pharmacist. Estell and Mary were quite a team - with Mary as the behind-the-scenes gal, doing the bookkeeping and helping Estell every step of the way. The business grew to be one of the largest independent family-owned drug stores in the state. Every day, 365 days a year, for 35 years, the Kesling family served the community until the business was sold in 1996.
Mary Dawn passed away on May 19, 2019, Estell said, "I never thought anyone would love me, considering my size, but she loved me - unconditionally - and she was my world." In spite of his great loss, Estell rallied for his family and was determined to be strong, once again, overcoming adversity. It was during this time that his faith in the Lord was strengthened and he found great peace in praying and growing closer in his walk with God.
Through his community involvement as a business man, Estell donated and sponsored many activities, especially those supporting Cass County youth - numerous Little League teams, 4-H, church groups - he always stepped up to the plate to give back to the community. Estell was a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge, the Royal Center Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star as well as a 50-year member of the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association. He was a life member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.
Surviving , are two sons and daughters-in-law, Curtis A. and Tobie Kesling, and Robert L. and Lisa Kesling, all of rural Logansport; four grandchildren, Erica (Justin) Zimmer, Ethan (Lexi) Kesling, Robert Kesling, and Anna Kesling; all of Logansport; one great-granddaughter, who he adored, Paisley Zimmer and a new great-grandson due any day, Kip Kesling. Estell was looking forward to Kip's arrival. Also surviving are his older brother, Irvin Kesling, of Kokomo and his youngest brother and best friend, Willis Kesling, of Royal Center; as well as several nieces and nephews. The Kesling family considered their employees at the drug store and more recently the many home health caregivers as extension of their family. They wish to thank those who made Estell's stay at home possible. He received loving care from a very compassionate group of people.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Fisher, and three brothers, Bobby Kesling, Dick Kesling, and Norman Kesling.
In honoring Estell's wishes, a private family funeral service was recently held at Fisher Funeral Chapel.
Burial followed in the Little Deer Creek Cemetery in Onward.
When people could not pay for their medicine due to hardships, Estell would note the amount and say, "I'll put it in the book." Up until just a few years ago, he was still receiving checks in the mail from people who never forgot his kindness. In his memory, find a way to pay it forward to those in need and make the world a kinder place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may also be made to the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.
You may share condolences and post memories for the family on his Tribute Wall at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com
Born November 5, 1931, on the Kesling farm in Onward, Indiana, he was the fifth-born child of the late Fred Cecil and Anna Rozella (Fitzer) Kesling. Estell's parents were told that he would not survive. Despite all odds being against him from the start, not only did he survive but he proved that his strength over adversity knew no bounds time after time. He may have been small, but he was mighty.
When he was a young boy, his older sister, Mary Elizabeth, recognized his vocal talents and he sang in many contests with her as his accompanist on the piano. He won many of the talent contests losing only to the slightly older Captain Stubby, when he entered the competition.. At the age of ten, the Kesling family moved to Royal Center. Estell was a proud 1949 graduate of Royal Center High School.
In the fall of 1949, Estell went on to further his education at the School of Medical Technology and Phlebotomy in Elkhart. He worked hard to pay the $3-a-week rent for his room. Transportation to and from college was not a problem with Estell's ingenuity. He had a suitcase with Notre Dame taped on one side and Purdue taped on the other side and he would hitchhike for rides by turning the suitcase to denote his destination.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 1951, Estell enrolled as a pharmacy student at Purdue University. He was working nights at the downtown Muir's Drug Store in Lafayette when he met a beautiful young lady named Mary Dawn Layton. She was making Easter baskets in the center aisle when he first saw her and said to himself, "She is the one for me."
On August 25, 1956, in the Baptist Christian Church in Royal Center, Estell and Mary Dawn were united in marriage. Still in pharmacy school, Estell worked when he wasn't in class while Mary worked the following six years as the executive secretary to the administrator of the Wabash Valley Hospital. In 1955, Estell graduated from the Purdue School of Pharmacy with a Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Science.
Estell worked as the assistant manager at Hooks in Lafayette after graduation before moving back to Logansport. The couple were very frugal with money and managed to save enough during those lean years to build a 40' x 80' long building on Logansport's west side. In 1961, the store they co-founded, "Kesling's Drug Store", officially opened to the public. A few years later, Estell's brother, Norman G. Kesling, joined the business after graduating from Purdue as a pharmacist. Estell and Mary were quite a team - with Mary as the behind-the-scenes gal, doing the bookkeeping and helping Estell every step of the way. The business grew to be one of the largest independent family-owned drug stores in the state. Every day, 365 days a year, for 35 years, the Kesling family served the community until the business was sold in 1996.
Mary Dawn passed away on May 19, 2019, Estell said, "I never thought anyone would love me, considering my size, but she loved me - unconditionally - and she was my world." In spite of his great loss, Estell rallied for his family and was determined to be strong, once again, overcoming adversity. It was during this time that his faith in the Lord was strengthened and he found great peace in praying and growing closer in his walk with God.
Through his community involvement as a business man, Estell donated and sponsored many activities, especially those supporting Cass County youth - numerous Little League teams, 4-H, church groups - he always stepped up to the plate to give back to the community. Estell was a 50-year member of the Elks Lodge, the Royal Center Masonic Lodge and Order of Eastern Star as well as a 50-year member of the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association. He was a life member of the Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity.
Surviving , are two sons and daughters-in-law, Curtis A. and Tobie Kesling, and Robert L. and Lisa Kesling, all of rural Logansport; four grandchildren, Erica (Justin) Zimmer, Ethan (Lexi) Kesling, Robert Kesling, and Anna Kesling; all of Logansport; one great-granddaughter, who he adored, Paisley Zimmer and a new great-grandson due any day, Kip Kesling. Estell was looking forward to Kip's arrival. Also surviving are his older brother, Irvin Kesling, of Kokomo and his youngest brother and best friend, Willis Kesling, of Royal Center; as well as several nieces and nephews. The Kesling family considered their employees at the drug store and more recently the many home health caregivers as extension of their family. They wish to thank those who made Estell's stay at home possible. He received loving care from a very compassionate group of people.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mary Elizabeth Fisher, and three brothers, Bobby Kesling, Dick Kesling, and Norman Kesling.
In honoring Estell's wishes, a private family funeral service was recently held at Fisher Funeral Chapel.
Burial followed in the Little Deer Creek Cemetery in Onward.
When people could not pay for their medicine due to hardships, Estell would note the amount and say, "I'll put it in the book." Up until just a few years ago, he was still receiving checks in the mail from people who never forgot his kindness. In his memory, find a way to pay it forward to those in need and make the world a kinder place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may also be made to the Cass County Purdue Alumni Association Scholarship Fund.
You may share condolences and post memories for the family on his Tribute Wall at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com
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