Doris Eleanor Kesler

The grandest of ladies went to be with the Lord December 27, 2014. Doris Kesler died of natural causes at her home on Winona Lake. On December 18, 1922, she was born in Warsaw, Indiana to Arden and Pauline (Wood) Kincaide. She was united in marriage to Robert Haimbaugh Kesler in 1946, who preceded her in death on November 1, 2003. Doris retired, from Warsaw Community Schools Central Administration Office, in 1986. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, Warsaw and attended Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church. She was also a member of Tri Kappa Sorority and precinct committee woman for the Republican Party. Doris is survived by two children, Susan (and spouse James) Wagner, Plymouth and Stephen (and spouse Kim) Kesler, Warsaw; ten grandchildren, Scott (and spouse Katrina) Wagner, Julie Wagner (and spouse Chad) Schwietert, Kirsten Fatchett, Cole (and spouse Megan) Fatchett, Rob (and spouse Bethany) Kesler, Ross (and spouse Kristen) Kesler, Kara (and spouse Wes) Whisler, Kyla (and spouse Wesley) Snoddy, Kandi Kesler and Rhett Kesler. Doris is also survived by fifteen great grandchildren, Vaughn Schwietert, Griffin Schwietert, Adelyn Wagner, Palmer Wagner, Nolan Kesler, Serina Kesler, Charlotte Kesler, Knox Kesler, Violet Kesler, Nova Snoddy, Isabelle Snoddy, Gwyn Whisler, Molly Whisler, Vivyan Whisler and Maddox Fatchett. Doris was also preceded in death by her daughter, Nancy Fatchett. As a lifelong resident of Warsaw, Doris was proud of her roots and proud of her city. Doris loved people. When she was working for the school corporation she knew everyone and everyone knew her. Her kind heart and giving spirit made her a favorite. When she was growing up it was her grandmother who took her to church and Sunday school every Sunday to establish what became a lifetime of of faith and service for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She loved to study the Bible and was always excited when she learned new things. In recent days she became very thrilled and interested in her future home in heaven with the Lord, and she joyfully looked forward to being reunited with her beloved husband Bob, her daughter Nancy and other loved ones who had gone on before. Doris personified the person with “an attitude of gratitude.” Doris was a woman of grit. Her endurance and stamina were amazing. She did have some difficult circumstances in her life. Yet she always rose above circumstances. Depending upon the Lord, and continuing to do good to others, Doris lived a glowing an amazing life. She would talk of “the miracle of 1982,” which was when she and Bob mortgaged their house to buy the van chassis and materials to build the first Explorer conversion van. Doris always considered it to be a special gift from God that the Lord opened the door for that business enterprise to grow and to become one of the major companies in this area. Doris explained that she thanked the Lord every day for that miracle, and every day she would also pray with thanksgiving for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Doris was also very generous. She knew that all of the blessings she enjoyed were from the Lord and she was quick to share and assist others. She was a dog lover. She and Bob always had a dog, and after Bob was gone, Doris continued to have her dog as a faithful companion. She contributed generously to the Kosciusko County Animal Shelter. Even in her 90s Doris Kesler lived life large and was so active and engaged in life that her lifestyle and activities were like those of someone in their 50s and 60s. She was an avid golfer and her golf game did not slow down until she was in her upper 80s. She was sharp as a tack until her last breath. Doris had many friends in Indiana and in Florida. She enjoyed getting together for family holidays, festivities, sporting events, games, bridge and other social gatherings. She embodied the saying, “If you want a friend, then be a friend.” Because of her winsome personality and the genuineness of her caring heart, people were always drawn to Doris and everyone always liked her. In the center of Doris's heart was her deep love of her family she enjoyed sharing the latest pictures of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She particularly enjoyed the technology of sharing over the Internet through email, and with her iPad. Doris knew that many things in this life ultimately are of little consequence. But she always knew that family really counts. All in her family were made to be better people because of Doris and her love Doris was engaged in what was going on in the nation and the world. In fact, she could not even understand those who were unaware of current events or did not seem to care about the well-being of America. Doris was indeed a staunch Republican, but it was more than that. She was a conservative Republican. She did not compromise her conservative political beliefs, and it definitely bothered her when national or local politicians would forget their conservative roots and promises. Doris is already greatly missed. Yet she would not want anyone to feel sorry for her at this point. She is joyfully in the presence of the Lord, and she is busy catching up with Bob, Nancy and all those other folks in heaven. And she most certainly is delighted that the Lord allowed her the dignity of being in her own home when she quietly and easily slipped from this life into the loving arms of Jesus. A funeral service will be at 10:00 am Wednesday, December 31, 2014 in Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Warsaw with Pastor Denny Wilson officiating. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw. Visitation hours will be from 4:00 – 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 30, 2014 in McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. Memorial contributions may be made to Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, 3489 East 100 South, Warsaw, Indiana 46582.