Esther Kessel

     Esther Mae Kessel was born January 2, 1947, in Council Bluffs, Iowa to parents Charles and Iva (Cooper) Duren. By 1950, Iva was remarried to Clifford York and he had a son, Ken. Ken and Esther went to Grade School in Logan, Iowa and moved to Woodbine, Iowa in 1960. A final relocation of the family to Council Bluffs, Iowa occurred and Esther graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1965. Esther provided a home for her two sons, Derrick and Daniel and her mother while working in the service industry, lastly as hostess at the Ramada Inn Airport for 20 years. Health issues were debilitating over those years, resulting in her residing with son, Derrick, since 2020. The Cooper family was large, Esther’s Mom being one of 14 children of John and Augusta Cooper. Large family gatherings were held at holidays, on anniversaries and when family came to visit.

     Family was everything to Esther, being proud of her grandchildren and delighting in her great grandchildren. There were also the family pets over the years with Pitbull Stormy and lastly “My Drago” as Esther lovingly referred to Derrick’s Rottweiler.

     Esther passed away peacefully surrounded by family, on February 24, 2026, in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 79 years, one month and 22 days.

    Esther is survived by sons, Daniel Kessel and Derrick Dias of Omaha; grandchildren, Margaret Dias and Noah (Harley) Dias of Omaha; greatgrandchildren, Jace, Knox, Ryvr and Jaxx of Omaha and Chance of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Angela Dias of Omaha; and many cousins and friends.