Fred K. Kessel

Fred Kenneth Kessel, 78, of Lakewood, IL, passed away at 9:19 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, in Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO.

Private family services will be held with burial in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to the Shelbyville Chapter of FFA and mailed to Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 N. Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565.

Fred was born on February 14, 1948, in Shelbyville, IL, the son of Burl Kenneth and Marjorie Moreen (Plowman) Kessel. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1966, where he was active in FFA. Fred married Sandra Kay Winings on December 28, 1967, and they were blessed with three children, Deanna, Debra and Mathew. He was the plant manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Shelbyville at the time of his retirement. Fred previously worked at Hydro-Gear in Sullivan, IL and as plant manager for So-Hi Grow, PC Ltd., and Okaw Crop Care. In his spare time, Fred enjoyed playing golf with his friends.

He is survived by his daughters, Deanna Collier and husband Joe and Debra Snyder and husband Kendall both of Lakewood, IL; son, Mathew Kessel and wife Stephanie of Decatur, IL; grandchildren, Zeb Collier of Vandalia, IL, Gabby Niebrugge (Kyle) of Effingham, IL, Nik Snyder (Rachel) of Colorado Springs, CO, Autum Snyder of Albuquerque, NM, Breanna Kessel of Mt. Zion, IL, and Brody Kessel of Decatur, IL; step-grandchildren, Zoey Thixton of Williamsville, IL and Zane Thixton of Sherman, IL; great grandchildren, Winifred and Wesley Collier, Theodore, Benjamin, and Franklin Niebrugge, and Beckham Gerhardt; step-great granddaughter, Aurora McDonough; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sandra on October 20, 2024; brother, David Kessel; sisters, Judy Johnson and Ruth Riley; and nephew, Larry Johnson.