Earl Cornelius Kettler

KETTLER, Earl Cornelius, age 93, of Centerville, passed away on August 3, 2015. He was born on September 7, 1921 at home in Deerfield, Kearny County, Kansas to August J. Kettler, Jr. and Meta Penner Kettler. He was in the pre-ministerial program September 1936 - May 1942 at St. John's Academy and College, Winfield, Kansas. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in June of 1947, which included one-year vicarage in Iowa. Earl was ordained in the ministry July 13, 1947 in Hot Springs, New Mexico and assigned as missionary in Southwest New Mexico. He served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army 1951-1971, retiring as a Colonel in the Regular Army. Among his eight assignments were the 7th Infantry Division, Korea; the Old Guard of the 3rd Infantry, Fort Myer, Virginia; Military Advisory Group, Vietnam; and personnel department of the Office of the Chief of Chaplains, Washington, D.C.. He served civilian pastorates 1971-1984 in Hagerstown and Silver Spring, Maryland. Chaplain Kettler married Doris Hentschel June 21, 1947. Survivors include wife, Doris; daughters, Mary Ann Mulford (Hewett), Jean Wilcox (Jeff Zucker), and Carol Sattler (Karl); grandchildren, Ann (Neil) Ritzert, Erin (Brandon) Brown, Daniel Sattler, Caleb (Andrea) Sattler, Keegan Wilcox, Luke Sattler, Madeline Wilcox, and Laura Sattler; four great-grandchildren; step-grandchildren, Marcy (David) Shultz, Chris (Adele) Mulford, and Michael Mulford; four step-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Esther McMichael. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Armin Kettler and Arnold C. Kettler. A funeral service will be held at 10:00am on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Routsong Funeral Home, 81 N. Main St., Centerville officiated by Pastor Mark Carlson with family greeting guests a half hour before the service. Burial will follow at Lebanon Cemetery.