Vern Delbert Kessler

Vern D Kessler, age 81 of Naturita, CO passed away at home on Wednesday, February 24, 2021. He was born on November 22, 1939 in Olathe, CO to Henry and Ada (Phillips) Kessler.
Vern attended grade school thru graduation in Olathe. After graduation, he began mining in Naturita/Uravan Co. He then attended the police academy in Denver, CO. He then became town Marshall in Naturita, where he met his wife of 57 years, Doris Sutherland on March 5, 1964.
Vern had many ventures in life, miner, Marshall, Police Sgt., salesman, and his favorite occupation, auctioneer. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, tending to his beautiful lawn, and sitting on the front porch for hours watching hundreds of birds he fed, and people passing by waving.
Vern is preceded in death by his parents; six brother’s, Allen, Robert, Edgar, Norman, Hank and Mitchell; six sisters, Bertha, Helen, Viola, Lucillia, Louise and Ella May; and his infant son, Kevin Michael Kessler.
Vern’s greatest passion and love in life was his family. He is survived by his wife, Doris; daughter’s, Debby (Denny) Higgins of Palisade, CO, and Kathren Oathout of Grand Junction; grandchildren, Kyle (Camille) Rhoades of CO. Springs, Nicholas (Ashley) Jones of GJ, Kory Rhoades of GJ, Rachel Oathout of Naturita, Kenzi (Devin) Trisler of GJ, Kasey Rhoades of GJ, Jacob Oathout of GJ and Kamry (Audrey) Rhoades of GJ; great grandchildren, Presley Jones, Mili Good, Alexander and Natalia Rhoades, Eli Kanikowski, Eliana Trisler, Christian and Connor Warn, Brynlee Higgins and Pilate Whatcott.
Grandpa is now surrounded by his family, he is rejoined with his mother that he lost at the age of 3, father, brothers and sisters, his in-laws that he thought of as parents, JP and Oneita Sutherland, and for the first time, he meets his infant son, Kevin Michael.