Family and friends said goodbye to Rochelle resident Eugene “Gene” Kessen on Monday morning.
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ROCHELLE — Family and friends said goodbye to Rochelle resident Eugene “Gene” Kessen on Monday morning.
Kessen owned and operated Kessen Construction for many years, and also well known as “Coach” to many Rochelle Little League players throughout his over 30 years coaching and managing the Kiwanis team.
In a fitting tribute, past players serving as pallbearers in this morning’s funeral all wore Kiwanis baseball caps.
Kessen also coached basketball at St. Patrick’s Grade School and in 1978 started a basketball program for local fourth and fifth grade youngsters that later became RYBA. Kessen was awarded the Rochelle Community Leader of the Year in 1995.
Watch for a tribute article in an upcoming edition of the News-Leader.
