The Incredible story of Dr. Ben Kessler
This is the story of Dr. Benjamin Gerald Kessler, lovingly known as Ben by his wife Linda (Klesse), dad to his daughters Andrea and Paula (Kane Trevarthen), papa by his grandchildren Ireland and Kingston, and Dr. Ben by the community that lovingly surrounds him. Dr. Ben was an amazing man that is loved, is missed, and will always be cherished.
Dr. Ben was renown for the value he put on working hard, his determination of getting the toughest job done, and how he persevered in the most difficult situations. His strong work ethic served him well while studying Veterinarian Medicine at University in Guelph Ontario, graduating in 1965. As it was his nature, he made many great friends during this time and was happy to attend his graduating class 50-year reunion in 2015.
You might think that Dr. Ben was a serious man, as he has been described above. However, he was always making us laugh. Sometime intentionally but often unintentionally as this is simply who he was. His friends will tell you of the pranks he pulled and the good times they had.
Dr. Ben married Linda in 1966 and in only a few months, they headed to Watrous. It is here where he would create his own Veterinarian practice. He loved his work and it brought him a lot of joy and satisfaction. However, the relationships he developed were the true drive behind the commitment to his practice.
Dr. Ben was born on his family farm in Fife Lake Saskatchewan. He was the second youngest of nine. He had four sisters: Irene Yacucha, Clara Johnston (deceased), Edna Lutz (deceased), Pearl MacDonald (deceased) and four brothers Adam (deceased), Harvey, John, and George. With farming in his blood, Dr. Ben was determined to have a farm of his own. He slowly built his farm, Rock Garden Ranch, while managing a busy practice and raising a young family. It was here also that he continue to grow is love for gardening. With great pride and pleasure Dr. Ben generously picked, washed, and bagged a variety of vegetables to drop off for people in the community.
Dr. Ben was a true farm boy with big dreams to match his ambition. Very simply put, he was the most genuine seed planter. He planted a seed that grew into a tree to shelter and protected us. He planted a seed that became an apple, a haskap berry, an ear of corn, or a potato to feed us. He planted his seed of knowledge and it grew in all of us.
Dr. Ben’s curiosity and pursuit of knowledge guided him to realizing his dreams of expanding his farm. Always growing and evolving. Both cattle and goats have called Rock Garden Ranch home but at present time, only the buffalo roam. His latest ideas were in a hunting lodge, which is almost complete!
After 43 years of Veterinarian practice Dr. Ben retired and took on a new role as papa. His grandchildren were his heart and joy. There is no denying that these little people were the center of his world. Time spent at papa’s house was plentiful but still very special, filed with creative play, many treats, and of course, “skinny” pancakes.
One of Dr. Ben’s favorite sayings was “look forward not back; head up not down; nose to the grindstone and shoulder to the wheel.” And so goes the incredible story of an incredible man until we see our Ben, dad, and papa again. We love you and we miss you. We will carry you with us as we look forward; we will look up and see you shinning on us; and we will do our best to live out your legacy of hard work and generosity.