Vernon Lee Kessel Jr., 68, of Sparta, Illinois, passed away surrounded by several of his family members on February 10, 2014 at St. John's Hospital Hospice in Springfield, Illinois. He was born August 30, 1945 in Sparta, Illinois to Vernon and Jackie (Glasscock) Kessel. He was a member of the B.B.K. American Legion Post #480, Steeleville, Sparta VFW #2698, and the Howard County Vietnam Veterans Organization in Kokomo, Indiana. He was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Cutler for many years as an adult and regularly attended the Trinity United Presbyterian Church in Sparta as a child. He most recently worked as a security therapy aide at Chester Mental Health Center (a member of AFSCME 31 Local 424) and was previously employed by Eldorado Chemical Company, Hepp Drilling, and at Zeigler Coal -Spartan Mine #2 (a UMWA member). He served his country in the United States Navy from 1963-1972 during the Vietnam War era. During this time, he traveled the world serving aboard the USS Guadalcanal, the USS Coral Sea, and the USS Midway. He was also part of the primary recovery efforts for the Gemini 10 reentry capsule. He never met a stranger and would strike up a conversation with anyone he encountered. Anyone that knew him well, knew he was a "funny" guy and was always making jokes. Some knew him as "the ice man" when he owned and operated the Cutler Ice Company out of his home in the late 1990s. In 2012, he was able to take two big trips: one to Arkansas where he dug for diamonds at a state park and another trip to Washington D.C. to see all of the war and service memorials. One of the things he looked forward to every year for the past 20+ years was attending the Howard County Vietnam Veterans Organization's annual reunion in Kokomo, Indiana. It was there that he was surrounded by other men and women that served our country and he was most at ease. He is survived by his children Valerie Kessel Barton & Chad Barton of Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and Kara Kessel & Gary Hopewell of Belleville, Illinois and their mother, LouAnn Eggemeyer of Sparta, Illinois, as well as Laura Hepp Kessel & Andrew Thornton of Springfield, Illinois and Vernon Kessel III of Campbell Hill, Illinois and their mother, Sheryl Kessel of Campbell Hill, Illinois. He is also survived by his grandsons Vernon Kessel IV and Graisen Kessel of Boonville, Missouri; his sister Verna (the late Paul) Moeller and his brother Charles "Chuck" (Rose) Kessel all of Sparta, Illinois, as well as many nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins, friends, colleagues and his "Kokomo family". He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Loretta Kessel. His positive attitude, strength and determination were an inspiration to those around him as he battled cancer for more than a decade. Vernon was able to donate the gift of sight to others through the Gift of Hope organization. Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Thursday, February 13 at Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville, Illinois and from 10am until the hour of service on Friday, February 14 at the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Cutler. Funeral services will be held at 1pm at the church with Pastor Mike Higgerson officiating and graveside services will follow at the Cutler Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight program, "Vernon's Crew" Relay for Life team - American Cancer Society, or the Howard County Vietnam Veterans Organization. Wilson's Funeral Home in Steeleville is in charge of arrangements.