John Richard Kessell

March 15, 1954 - February 28, 2022

John Richard Kessell, husband, father, son, drummer extraordinaire, insanely talented artist/graphic designer, lover of life, loyal friend to legions, shuffled off this mortal coil on February’s final morning of 2022. John was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in June 2019. To say John, Johnny, Maddog, Hano, Soc, Dad, Pops, Ricky, PopPop will be missed, is an utter waste of words. Born March 15th 1954, in Iowa City, Ia. to Barbara Etter-Kessell and Wallace Kessell, John secured his spot on the All-Star best human team. Shortly after, the family moved to Dayton Ohio to secure an engineering job for Wally. Barely two years later, sans Wally, who’d died a few days earlier, the Kessells returned to Barbara’s hometown of Washington, Iowa. Lucky to have an extremely bright, curious, independent mother in Barbara and doting grandparents, Preston Lee Etter and Helen McKee Etter, John not only survived his father’s absence, but flourished in the glow of his new world on North Iowa Avenue. His mother and grandparents never stopped talking to John about what a great dad he’d had & the pride he could always embrace. By high school, Johnny had come under the spell of all things subversive in his conservative hamlet. Shockingly long hair, near approached his ears and collar. The gauntlet had been thrown. “Our way or the highway”, according to school doctrine. The Iowa Supreme Court stepped in shortly after to neuter the argument equating coiffure to academic prowess. Naturally, this taste of political engagement just whet his appetite for prolonged rabble rousing. Drums were the obvious choice going forward. The die was cast. A band of Washington and Muscatine high schoolers needed a drummer for their music group, Box Lunch. Logically, Barbara Kessell would never consent to allowing her only son, 14, to travel around the state with these older boys, but John wanted, really, needed to play rock ‘n roll on his psychedelic Ludwig drum kit. Eat your heart out, Ringo. After attending The University of Iowa, John spent the remainder of the 70s with the popular Iowa City based band, This Side Up. During this life chapter, he met and married Morning Sun native, Teresa Callahan. They migrated to the Baltimore MD. area in 1980 and started a family. Allen was first in 1981, then twins Jhana and Phillip popped along in ‘85. The kids, by his admission, were his crowning achievement. Devoted to them through the good & bad, he exulted in every win, be it personal or career. Allen’s vertical stature was a beacon for picking him out of the drum line, and Phillip’s participation in “Stupid Human Tricks” during his internship at the Late Show with David Letterman, triggered alerts to friends and family to set the DVR. John was a proud Scout Master, participating in the boy’s scouting endeavors. Jhana was the family equestrian, and shared weekend adventures with her dad at ye ol’ horse barn were incrediblly wonderful times . Par for the course, John also participated in her dancing and singing passions. Jhana’s son, Matthew, bonded intensely with Grandpa John & told it like it was. Prior to a conducting raffle John had entered, 3 year old Matthew stoically announced “PopPop, if we don’t win, we don’t cry”. They won. And there were tears watching PopPop and Matthew conducting the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for that unforgettable 4th of July concert. John was creative director and head of marketing for SMARTdesks most of his professional design career. Enormously prolific in both the artistic and technical aspects of his trade, he did whatever necessary to juggle job & kids, even earning his BFA from Towson University. John and Teresa eventually parted, and shortly after, while back in Iowa visiting mom and playing any number of gigs, lightning struck. Longtime Washingtonian, Krista Satterfield, was strolling Central Park one August afternoon in 2010, enjoying music from the Randy Swift quartet, featuring a certain East Coast drummer. At the conclusion of music that evening, Cupid inspired the ice breaker “I’m Krista Satterfield and you’re the legendary John Kessell”. Yes, she was. And yes, he was. They married in that same park in May 2012, the exact spot they’d met two years earlier. John and Krista made their new home in suburban Baltimore, and John started pouring his boundless love of music into his daily life. For anyone calling for a drummer within a 75 mile radius, the answer was always yes. He played with more groups and bands than can be listed here. Be it big band music, contemporary jazz, R&B, fusion : John was the first call. The list of close friends and musical collaborators from this era is equally long. Though their time together was cruelly brief, Krista and John packed a gargantuan amount of love into their Maryland and Iowa days. Krista and John spent months fixing up their dream home on West Main. Part of that dream was to create an artists haven and sanctuary in that beautiful oak front room, bedecked with Carlton Bump’s hand built bass and John’s collection of Edison players. Though devastated by his passing, those of us left behind will never let go of that joyful, gentle presence, nor his love of damn near everyone. John is survived by his mother, Barbara Kessell of Washington, Ia. ; wife, Krista Kessell of Washington, Ia.; son, Allen Kessell and friend, Meghan Stitely; son, Phillip Kessell and wife, Ashley: and daughter, Jhana and husband, Percy Marquez, with grandson, Matthew. They all reside in Maryland. Krista’s kids, Paul Steele of Cedar Rapids and Elizabeth Steele and her son Zayden Liles of Washington. Beloved dog, Bix and constant feline companion, Sir Duke, both reside in Washington. The Kessell family is happy to announce the creation of the “John Kessell Legacy Music Scholarship”. As John’s life was a celebration of music, this foundation will continue his legacy here or wherever kids need help exploring the arts. Donations can be sent to: Federation Bank 102 East Main St. / PO Box 529, Washington, Ia. 52353 Celebrations in Maryland and Washington, Ia. are being planned at later dates.