Quentin Grover Kessler

Quentin G. Kessler, age 76, of Montrose, passed away Thursday, July 23, 2009, at the Montrose Memorial Hospital. Quentin was born March 29, 1933 in Leoti, KS to Henry and Ada (Phillips) Kessler. His family came to Colorado in a covered wagon when Quentin was one and one half years old. He attended grade school at Olathe, CO graduating from Olathe High School in 1950. Quentin served his country in the United States Army from May 1953 to September 1955. He worked for a short time at mining in the West End at Naturita, CO and then worked on the construction of the Delta County Courthouse. Quentin also worked for the H. & G. Livestock Company at Montrose. He did a little farming on Shinn Park as well as Shavano Valley, which he enjoyed. He married Evelyn Fortner on February 7, 1960; they celebrated 49 years together this year, 2009. In 1964, Quentin went to work for the Colorado Department of Highways, which later changed its name to Colorado Department of Transportation, as a Maintenance Helper, then to Senior Highway Maintenance Man then later to Assistant Highway Foreman. Quentin worked out of Montrose and Glenwood Springs areas. He retired after 35 years with the highway department on March 29, 1999. Quentin enjoyed hunting and four wheeling. After retirement, fattening and selling calves, going to livestock sales in Delta and Salida took up much of his time, which he enjoyed along with spending time in the garden and yard work. In his later years, he enjoyed cutting, bailing and stacking hay for his neighbor's and friends. Quentin is survived by his wife, Evelyn; sister, Louise Kessler of Delta; brothers, Norman Kessler of Delta, and Vern Kessler of Naturita, CO, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Allen, Robert, Edgar, Hank and Mitchell, and five sisters, Bertha, Helen, Viola, Lucellia and Ella May. A public visitation for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2009, from 6 - 8:00 p.m., at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., at Grand View Cemetery with Minister Spencer Powers officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to a donation of the donor's choice, or The American Cancer Society, in memory of Quentin Kessler, 2754 Compass Dr., Grand Junction, CO 81506 or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402. Any sympathy cards sent to Evelyn should be mailed to P. O. Box 1432, Montrose, CO 81402. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401. Daily Sentinel, 7/29/2009