Kenneth Wayne Fessler

KENNETH FESSLER

GODFREY - Kenneth Wayne Fessler, 77, died at 10:24 a.m., Thursday, March 5, 2026 at his residence after a period of declining health.

He was born in Alton, Illinois on February 8, 1948, and was one of five children born to the late William Leverne and Evelyn Maxine (Voumard) Fessler.

He was raised in the Godfrey area, and graduated in 1966 from Alton Senior High School, and soon thereafter, enlisted with the United States Air Force, where he was very proud to be associated with the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane during the Vietnam War.  

He married the former Bonnie Kay Brown on February 4, 1967 at the Calvary Baptist Church in Alton, and after his honorable discharge they returned home, along with two young children, to begin their life.

He enrolled at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville obtaining his Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and earned his CPA license from the State of Illinois, accepting a position with Scheffel & Company, where he quickly was honored to become partner.

His career flourished throughout the years, and his family grew as three more children were to join their family.

Surviving are his wife, Bonnie Fessler of Godfrey; three sons and daughters in law, Kenny Wayne and Alicia Fessler of Rockford, Matthew and Sara Fessler of Grafton, and John Fessler of St. Louis, Missouri; four grandsons, Brandon, Ethan (Jami) Fessler, Aaron Fessler and Alex Fessler; a great granddaughter who will soon join the family; a sister and brother in-law, Marilyn and John "Skip" James of Godfrey, and Richard “Pete” Fessler of Dodge City, Kansas. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara "Barbie" Fessler on July 7, 1984; an infant son, Caleb James Fessler on Apr. 14, 1980; a brother, Steven Leverne Fessler; and a sister, Carol Ann Fessler. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday.  Rev. Charles Stratton will officiate.

He will be laid to rest in Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville, with the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 conducting military graveside rites.

Memorials may be given to the First Baptist Church in Grafton.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kenneth Wayne Fessler, please visit our floral store.