Fred Kenneth Kessel Obituary, Death – Lakewood Resident and Retired Agricultural Plant Manager Dies at 78
Fred Kenneth Kessel, 78, of Lakewood, Illinois, passed away at 9:19 p.m. on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. His passing marks the loss of a devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather whose life was shaped by family, years of professional service and lasting connections to his community.
Born on February 14, 1948, in Shelbyville, Illinois, Fred was the son of Burl Kenneth Kessel and Marjorie Moreen Plowman Kessel. He grew up in the Shelbyville area and graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1966. During his school years, he was actively involved in the Future Farmers of America, an organization that remained meaningful to his life and legacy.
On December 28, 1967, Fred married Sandra Kay Winings. Together, they raised three children, Deanna, Debra and Mathew, building a family that would remain central to his life. Sandra preceded him in death on October 20, 2024, after many years of marriage.
Fred established a long career in agricultural and industrial operations. At the time of his retirement, he was plant manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions in Shelbyville. His professional experience also included working at Hydro-Gear in Sullivan, Illinois, and serving as plant manager for So-Hi Grow, PC Ltd., and Okaw Crop Care. Through these roles, he developed a career rooted in practical experience and responsibility.
Away from work, Fred enjoyed spending time on the golf course with friends. Golf offered him an opportunity to relax, enjoy companionship and maintain the friendships that were part of his life outside his professional responsibilities.
His family was an important part of his legacy. Fred is survived by his daughters, Deanna Collier and her husband, Joe, and Debra Snyder and her husband, Kendall, both of Lakewood; and his son, Mathew Kessel, and his wife, Stephanie, of Decatur, Illinois.
He also leaves behind his grandchildren: Zeb Collier of Vandalia; Gabby Niebrugge and her husband, Kyle, of Effingham; Nik Snyder and his wife, Rachel, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Autum Snyder of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Breanna Kessel of Mount Zion, Illinois; and Brody Kessel of Decatur. His step-grandchildren are Zoey Thixton of Williamsville and Zane Thixton of Sherman.
Fred’s surviving family also includes great-grandchildren Winifred and Wesley Collier, Theodore, Benjamin and Franklin Niebrugge, and Beckham Gerhardt, as well as step-great-granddaughter Aurora McDonough. Many nieces and nephews also survive him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Sandra, his brother David Kessel, his sisters Judy Johnson and Ruth Riley, and his nephew Larry Johnson.
Private family services will be held, with burial at Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville. Arrangements are being handled by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville.
Those wishing to honor Fred’s memory may make memorial contributions to the Shelbyville Chapter of FFA. Donations may be mailed to Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 N. Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565.
As his family mourns his passing, Fred Kenneth Kessel will be remembered through the generations he helped raise, the career he built and the friendships he valued throughout his life. His memory will remain with the family and friends who shared in his journey.