James W. Kesse

January 15, 1946 - May 6, 2018

James W. Kesse, 72, of Hampshire passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, May 6, 2018, at Sherman hospital in Elgin surrounded by his family. He was born January 15, 1946, the son of Albert and Bertha (née Drees) Kesse in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from LaSalle High School. He volunteered for the United States Navy and served onboard the USS Berkeley from 1966 to 1970. He earned an accounting degree from the University of Cincinnati and worked in the field until retiring from Alumax Extrusions in 1999. He was a member of the Hampshire Lions Club, served his church and worked as the custodian at Little People Playtime. Jim married Rosemary Geisler on August 7, 1976, at the Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. Surviving are his wife, Rosemary; daughter, Mary Lou (Jeff) Yeager; grandchildren, Jacob, Hailey, Ashlyn; sister, Phyllis Mattio; sister-in-law, Mary Beckman; brother-in-law. Joe (Kathy) Geisler; special nieces and nephews, Louann (Ken) Swedberg, Dave (Beth) Beckman, Dan (Margaret) Beckman, Rose (Ralph) Parczany and Don (Tracy) Beckman; 10 grand nieces and nephews; many extended family and good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother. Albert; and brothers-in-law, David Beckman, and Tom Mattio. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am on Friday, May 11 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 297 E. Jefferson Ave., Hampshire. Burial with Military Honors will be follow in the St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, May 10 from 4-8PM at the Fredrick Funeral Home, 284 Park Street, Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, contributions benefitting Little People Playtime may be made to the Jim Kesse Memorial Fund c/o Fredrick Funeral Home, P.O. Box 445, Hampshire IL 60140-0445.