William Frank Kesslak

William (“Bill”) Frank Kesslak, AKA “Pappy” was born March 8, 1941, and died March 19, 2025.

The son of Anthony and Mary (Kist) Kesslak, he was also the youngest brother of 11 siblings.  He was born and raised in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and passed away in his home in Holsopple, Pennsylvania with his loving wife by his side.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Anthony, George (Marie), and Edwin (Pat McCaffery) as well as his sisters Mary (“Sis”) Pavlosky (Robert), Catherine (“Cass”), Patricia, Elizabeth Schellhammer (Edward), Susan Perosky (Thomas), and Joan Gilhooly (Walter).

He is survived by his only child, Anthony (Tony), his daughter-in-law Heather, his only grandchild Harper, and his devoted wife Patricia (“Pat”) (Labuda) his sister Rose Lill (Richard).  He is also survived by 35 nephews/nieces.  We are thankful to so many who have been available for support to Bill and Pat all these years.

As a child, Bill became enamored with golf.  It would continue to be one of his greatest lifetime passions.  He was a caddie at the age of 12 for The Sunnehanna Country Club.  He attended Ferndale-Dale High School, where he was active in Football/Shotput.  After graduating in 1959, he was employed by Sunnehanna as a groundskeeper.  He remained an avid golfer throughout his life.  He had 2 holes-in-one at the Oakbrook Golf Course in Johnstown.

Bill was a lifetime member of the Brownstown Volunteer Fire Company, as well as a member of the Brownstown Golf Association.

Bill was lucky enough to travel throughout his life to play golf.  Some of his golf excursion locations include Hawaii, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina.

He enlisted in the Air Force in 1962.  While in service, he was awarded Airman of the Month.  He attended the Electronics Training Program at Keesler Airforce Base in Mississippi following which, he was a Radar Radio Repairman servicing the planes returning from Vietnam.

In 1963, he was transferred to the Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He had the privilege of greeting President John F. Kennedy during a scheduled tour at the Base on the day of his assassination.   

He married his wife, Patricia on June 6, 1964, in St. Stephens Church in Johnstown, Pa.  They were married for 60 years.   Bill was a loyal husband and father and remained so until his dying day.  He sacrificed a lot to provide for his entire family.

Bill began working as a Painter/Decorator at the Walter Carroll Company in 1967, where he would remain for approximately 20 years. 

Their son Anthony was born in November of 1970.  Bill and Pat were constant supporters of their son’s college football career, and they travelled every weekend to see him in his games, sometimes as far as 8 hours away.  Anthony and Bill had a special relationship, sharing so many common interests/activities.  They communicated frequently, spent time together often, and shared an unspoken bond that became clearer and stronger with every passing year. 

Anthony met his wife Heather (Fisher) in 2000, and they married in 2010. They gave birth to their daughter Harper in 2012.  Harper instantly became the brightest light in Bill’s life.  He was SO proud of her, and he carried her school pictures with him everywhere he went…always prepared to brag about his intelligent and talented granddaughter. 

After Bill retired as a painter, he became a Business Agent for the local and international Painter’s Union.  He was quite proud to fight for the rights of blue collar workers until he fully retired at the age of 63 in 2003.  He then moved to his lifelong dream property on a 70-acre farm in Holsopple PA with his wife.

Time in Holsopple with the Kesslak family was SO special for anyone who got to experience it.  Bill adored cutting the grass, riding the 4-wheeler, hunting, and basking in his privacy.  There were countless family memories made there.  Whether flying kites, setting off fireworks, throwing frisbees for dogs, having delicious family dinners made by Pat, playing Pictionary or Poker, Bill LOVED it when his granddaughter, daughter-in-law, and son came to visit.  Experiencing Holsopple with her Pappy was a dream for his only granddaughter, and she will never forget her time there.  Our favorite memories include our Bowling/Arcade Outings followed by delicious Mexican dinners at El Jalisco in Johnstown.  We will miss these special times with him.  Life will simply never be the same without our beloved Pappy.  We will hold him in our hearts forever.

Bill’s final wishes did not include a public service or viewing. The interment of his ashes will also remain private.  We would like to thank Mason Funeral Home for their preparations and care for Bill and our family.

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