Art's remains will be interned at Tahoma National Cemetary in Kent, WA. 

Memorial gifts may be made to either the Lions Club Sequim Valley or Seattle Queen Anne chapters or to the Puget Sound Anglers N. Olympic Peninsula Chapter for their work with fish hatcheries, which support the fishing Art enjoyed so much.

Art was born in Seattle, WA in 1924.  His family moved to Newhalem, for his father's job with Seattle City Light, where Art enjoyed fishing and hunting, and his first job working for his enterprising sister, Louise, collecting night crawlers to be sold for fish bait at the local store.  The family moved back to Seattle where Art graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942.  Shortly after graduating he joined the US Air Force and served during WWII stationed on Palawan Island in the Philippines, earning a Sergant ranking.  On returning to Seattle, he worked repairing radios and televisions.

Art married Blanche Lexa in 1948.  They started raising a family and moved to Lake Serene where Art served 20 years as a volunteer Fireman for Fire District 1 and worked with the Lake Serene Community Club to raise support and build Lake Serene Fire Station 23, assisted in bringing the first 'Jaws of Life' to the District, and helped raise support to get street lights and sewer lines installed around the lake.  In 1965, Art was able to purchase Church's TV and Radio shop where he worked on Queen Anne hill and operated Art Kessler's TV & Radio until 1986.

Art moved to Sequim in 1987 to take life a little slower and do more fishing, his favorite hobby.  Instead he got licensed to sell real estate, which he did for 17 years.  He also continued working with the Sequim Valley chapter of the Lions Club, where he finished 50 years of service and in 2010 was awarded their highest honor, becoming a Melvin Jones Fellow.  He thoroughly enjoyed working with other members on fund raising efforts for good causes such as building the meeting hall at Carrie Blake Park, the skate park, awarding college scholarships to deserving youths, serving at pancake breakfasts, collecting food for the local food bank, and collecting donations and handing out Halloween treat bags for kids.  Previously, as a member of the Seattle Queen Anne chapter, he also helped with fishing derbies for the blind and collecting used eyeglass frames for the poor.

After being widowed, he married Nona Larson in 2004.  He suffered from dementia and generally failing health for several years, but died peacefully in his sleep. 

The family is thankful for the caring staff and good care he received during his time at Discovery Memory Care.