Herman L. Kesner
Herman Lee Kesner, 77, formerly of Keyser, WV, died Wednesday, February 17, 2010 after heart failure in the hospital at Bartow, FL.
Herman was born on February 19, 1932 at Dawson, MD on the family farm. On September 22, 1950, he married the former Ann Llewellyn of Keyser, WV and together they had five children. Her death on October 18, 1994 ended a union of 44 years. After Ann's death, he married Darlene Wells of Stephen City, VA on May 22, 1996.
Mr. Kesner and his wife Darlene were snowbirds who resided in Fort Meade, FL during the winter months and in Stephen City, VA during the summer. He was a retired union carpenter, a deacon in his church and a volunteer at his local senior citizen community center in Fort Meade. Herman was a hard worker throughout his lifetime, but enjoyed working with his church's youth group when his own children were young. Having been raised on a farm, he kept his love of farming and working with horses his whole life. Camping, sailing, scuba diving, 4-wheeling with his family and friends and gardening were all passions that he enjoyed. In his later years, he learned to be a locksmith and enjoyed making wooden toys for his great-grandchildren and the children in his church. He could always be found in his workshop, reading his Bible or feeding the squirrels in the park with his wife Darlene.
Mr. Kesner very much appreciated the help he received from his neighbors and church members in both Stephen City and Fort Meade, when due to chronic arthritis, he was unable to get around as he used to. He enjoyed keeping in touch with family members at the annual Llewellyn and Wells family reunions. He was very happy that he was able to attend the first Kesner reunion in Dawson, MD this past summer that his sister Darlene had organized. Herman loved his family, serving his brethren and friends, but he would be the first to tell you that every good thing in his life came from our Creator God and would give all the glory to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
He will be missed by his loving wife, Darlene; five children, Ruth Ann Kesner of Amissville, VA, Debbie Kesner of Culpeper, VA, Steve Kesner and wife Renee of Gainesville, VA, Jeff Kesner and wife Susie of Amissville and Karen Kesner of Stockholm, Sweden; two stepchildren; two brothers, four sisters, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A graveside service for family and friends will be conducted on Sunday, February 28, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at the Dawson Cemetery, Dawson, MD.
The family requests that memorial contributions be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601-7633 or log onto www.alz.org.
The Smith Funeral Home, Keyser Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences and personal reflections to the family may be left after Mr. Kesner's obituary at smithfuneralhomes.net.
