Jack Dale Keesling, 81, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday, May 9, 2021. Jack was born on Aug. 14, 1939, to Charles M. Keesling and Iva M. (Williams) Keesling in Wright County. Jack grew up loving sports and was a life-long St. Louis Cardinals fan. He graduated from Lebanon High School in 1958. He entered the Missouri National Guard on March 5, 1957 and served for eight years. In the summer of 1957, he met the “love of his life,” Miss Almeda Charlene Mitchell and they were married May 12, 1961. During their 57 years of marriage, they had three children, five grandchildren and are expecting the 10th great-grandchild in August. In September of 1958, Jack entered the Automotive Parts Industry beginning as an employee and quickly becoming a partner and then full owner of three parts stores in Waynesville, St. Robert and Mountain Grove. He worked in this industry for 33 years. In 1989, they moved to Springfield, where he did various jobs before finally retiring in 2014. Jack loved the Lord and was recently fond of telling visitors of his salvation story when he was 13 years old at the Free Will Baptist Church. He served in various capacities and on various boards in Free Will Baptist Churches in Waynesville, Mountain Grove and finally found “home” in the Ozark Family Church in Ozark. For 22 years, he taught Sunday School and was passionate about involving young people in Bible competitions. Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Charlene. He is survived by his three children, Susan Keesling, Cindy Abner, and David Keesling and his wife, Becky (Douglas) Keesling, and their two children, Connor Keesling and Carson Keesling. Cindy’s extended family includes her three children, Andrew Jones and his wife, Annie (Killingsworth) Jones and their five children, Veda Jones, Deakon Jones, Bear Jones, Iva Jones and Witten Jones; Jessica (Jones) Murray and her four children, Adia Murray, Talon Murray, Ben Murray, Emery Murray and their father, Chris Murray; Collin Jones and his wife, Brittany (Shope) Jones, and their father, Ron Jones. Other special people in the family are Christopher and Rikker Mayberry. Jack was greatly loved and will be truly missed but we are grateful that his faith has become sight. A memorial service will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, May 15, 2021, at Ozark Family Church, 2106 West Evangel Street, Ozark, Mo. 65721.
