Ray Kesler Jr. Obituary

Ray Kesler

February 10th, 1964 – July 8th, 2025

Ray Muraline Kesler Jr., a beloved husband, father, grandfather, mentor, educator, and servant leader, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, service, and compassion.

On June 10, 1995, Ray married Lisa Gernert. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, love, and commitment. They were blessed with two sons, Ray “Tray” Kesler III and Micaiah Kesler, who became the pride and joy of their lives.

Ray’s professional life spanned over four decades, during which he made lasting contributions to the manufacturing industry, higher education, his community, and the Church.

Born with an innate sense of duty and an unyielding commitment to excellence, Ray’s work ethic and leadership shaped every chapter of his life. In recent years, he served as a Training Manager at McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing, where he mentored countless employees and created training programs that fostered professional growth and operational success. His impact was felt company-wide during his more than four years of service.

An educator at heart, Ray also served for 14 years as an Adjunct Professor at Central Arizona College, where he inspired students through his passion for technology and computer science. His courses in networking and programming helped launch the careers of many aspiring tech professionals.

Ray’s career was marked by exceptional leadership, with pivotal roles including Production Manager at DSM, Bay State Milling, and Marathon Cheese. He excelled at managing large teams, ensuring quality and safety standards, and achieving operational goals. At Abbott Nutrition, he served as Off-Shift Powder Operations Supervisor, overseeing the production and packaging of essential health products.

Ray’s career began in military service, where he served as an Avionic Inertial Radar Navigational Specialist in the United States Air Force. His technical expertise and disciplined approach laid the foundation for his professional success. Later, as Plant Manager at Orion Pacific, he led high-volume third-party packaging operations, managing multi-million-pound production cycles and maintaining strong client relationships.

He served as the Coordinator for the Oshkosh Military Network (OCMN), building strong connections between veterans and community resources. He was also the Director for Birthright of Winona in 2025, offering support and compassion to women and families during vulnerable times. As Vice President of the Winona chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Ray found great joy in aviation and used that role to inspire others—especially young people—to look to the skies with wonder and possibility. Through each of these roles, he embodied a spirit of servant leadership, always stepping in where help was needed most and encouraging others to rise to their full potential.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ray’s greatest passion was his faith. As a Minister in the Church of Christ for over 28 years, he devoted his life to preaching, teaching, and counseling. His compassionate guidance touched many across the United States and in Romania, where he also served. Ray was a faithful spiritual leader who deeply cared for those around him, and his ministry will have a lasting impact for generations.

Throughout his life, Ray received numerous awards, including:

-5-Year Commitment Award from Abbott: A Promise for Life-Operational Excellence Award from Bay State Milling-Arizona Meritorious Service Medal from the State of Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs-Biblical and Ministry Studies degree from Sunset International Bible Institute-Paul Harris Fellow Award from The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

Ray is survived by his loving wife, Lisa Kesler; sons, Ray (Courtney) Kesler and Micaiah (Sara) Kesler; grandsons, Ivan and Owen; siblings, Debbie (Joel) Perkins, J.J. (Courtney) DeCair, Rick (Nancy) DeCair, and Bobby (Wendy) DeCair; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Noritta Kenyon; grandfather, Tony; and grandmother, Dorothy.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to be sent to the Sunset International Bible Institute or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Ray will be laid to rest at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery – Preston, on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 2pm.

A Memorial of Life will be held at 6pm on August 28th, 2025, at Brookside Church of Christ (109 Debi Lei Dr. Winona, MN).

Hoff Celebration of Life Center is assisting the family.