Raymond Essner

KELSO, Mo. -- Raymond A. Essner of Kelso passed away Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, at Chateau Girardeau at the ripe old age of 100. He was born July 23, 1922, in New Hamburg, Missouri, to Nicholas and Coena Welter Essner.

Raymond grew up on a farm between New Hamburg and Benton, Missouri, where he worked with his family until age 21. He attended St. Lawrence Grade School at New Hamburg. In August 1943 he went to work at Harris Field in Cape Girardeau and Parks Field in Sikeston, Missouri, where he received training as an aviation mechanic. He remained there until the end of World War II, when he helped prepare over 1,700 surplus trainer planes for resale.

Raymond and Marian Ressel of Kelso were married on July 8, 1947. From this union were born four sons and one daughter. Raymond went to work for Compas Hardware (later Burger Hardware) in Kelso in April 1947, working in the service department until 1964. In August 1964 he purchased the Conoco Station in Kelso from Jewell Graves and operated it as Ray's Conoco until his retirement in 1984. In 1967 Raymond purchased his first school bus and provided bus service to the Kelso C-7 School District until 1992 and to St. Augustine Grade School until 1996. He had a special relationship with the kids who rode his bus and always received lots of cards every year on Valentine's Day.

Raymond spent his entire married life in Kelso, where he was actively involved in the community. He served on the town council for five years, at which time he also served as the town marshal and tax collector. Raymond also served three years on the St. Augustine Parish Council and three years on the St. Augustine School Board, including one year as president. He was a 50-year member of Knights of Columbus Council 6420, where he served as Grand Knight in 1990-1991. After he retired, Raymond and Marian drove to Fountainbleau Nursing Home in Cape every Sunday for 20 years to deliver Communion and lead a prayer service for the Catholic residents there. Raymond was also a big advocate of the White House Retreat, which he attended for 24 consecutive years (1965-1989) and where he served as a group captain for 12 years.

In his younger years Raymond enjoyed hunting and fishing, but his real passion in life was playing the accordion. He learned to play as a teenager and limited his playing to entertaining his family at home until 1966, when he joined Danny and the Goldtones. He played with the Goldtones almost every weekend at everything from wedding anniversaries to church picnics until they disbanded in 1984. The "Beer Barrel Polka" was Raymond's theme song, and he played it countless times over his lifetime. In addition to playing the accordion, in his later years, he also loved to go on long walks, spend hours sitting in his swing and watching Fox News.

Raymond Essner

Although all of these activities were important to Raymond, the most important thing in his life was his family, and he never missed an Essner family reunion.

Raymond was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; his parents; two brothers, Herb and Leon Essner; two sisters, Patsy Ressel and Sylvia Reinagel; and daughter, Theresa.

Survivors include four sons, Danny (Debbie) Essner and Doug (Leslie) Essner of Cape Girardeau, David Essner and Dennis (Becky) Essner of Kelso; a daughter, Donna (Chris) Scherer of Benton; three half sisters, Rosie Horrell of Kelso, Margaret Snider of Farmington, Missouri, and Cecelia Margrabe of Jackson; stepbrother, Leo "Max" Fuller of New Hamburg; and stepsister, Jerene Moore of Luxora, Arkansas.

Raymond is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Nick Essner, Blake (Christina) Essner and Shane (Porsh) Wright of Cape Girardeau, Brent (Malerie) Essner of Jackson, Christina Scherer, John Scherer and Paul Scherer of Benton, Kasie (Josh) Irby of Sikeston, Kerri Essner of St Louis, and Jake (Addie) Wright of Fort Campbell, Kentucky; three great grandsons, Brendan Essner of Jackson, Parker Essner of Cape Girardeau and River Irby of Sikeston; and two great-granddaughters, Maebry Essner of Jackson and Ellie Essner of Cape Girardeau.

Visitation will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 at St. Augustine's Catholic Church in Kelso. The rosary will be at 10:30 a.m.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the St. Augustine Parish School.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.