Rev. Darwood Kesselmayer

Rev. Darwood Kesselmayer, 94, of Pekin, IL passed away at 5:31 AM Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Hallmark Healthcare of Pekin. Darwood was born on March 20, 1927 in Holgate, OH to Irvin and Kathryn (Barth) Kesselmayer. He married Marian M Brauer on June 18, 1955 in Altamont, IL. She passed away on June 22, 2011. Also preceding in death are his parents, three brothers and two sisters. Surviving is: three sons, Michael (Cheryl) Kesselmayer of Warrenville, IL, Steven (Faye) Kesselmayer and David (Jennifer) Kesselmayer both of Pekin; three daughters, Kathryn (Dan) Heisel of Pekin, Kaye Shepherd of El Paso, IL and Karyn (Frank) McChrystal of Stuart, FL; fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Darwood was a WWII Veteran of the United States Army. He received his Bachelors Degree from Concordia College in 1952 and graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis in 1955. He was installed as Pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Sparks, NV in 1955 -1961 and Holy Cross Lutheran Church in OFallon, MO from 1961 -1968. He was Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Pekin from 1968 -1991. After his retirement he served area Missouri Synod Lutheran churches. He was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church. He enjoyed fishing, stamp collecting and his beer can collection. Funeral services will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, December 4, 2021 at St. Johns Lutheran Church with Rev. Daniel Bishop officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM 7:00 PM Friday, December 3 at Henderson Funeral Home and Crematory and from 10:00 AM 11:00 AM Saturday at the church. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens with military honors by the United States Army. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church or Good Shepherd Lutheran School. Funeral Service Saturday, December 4, 2021 11:00 AM St. John's Lutheran Church 711 Court Street Pekin,IL 61554 Visitation Friday, December 3, 2021 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,Illinois 61554 Visitation Saturday, December 4, 2021 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM Henderson Funeral Home & Crematory 2131 Velde Dr. Pekin,Illinois 61554