Curtis Kesselring

Curtis Harry Kesselring passed away at Bethany on University in Fargo, ND, March 23,2026 from Parkinson’s Disease with Dementia. 

 Curtis was born January 14, 1945, in Underwood ND and grew up on the family farm near Washburn, ND.   He graduated from Washburn High School and from Minot State University with degrees in both Math and Physical Science.  He then moved to Fargo and started working at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in the Engineering Department where he met his future wife, Deborah Jean Dale.  

Curt joined the Navy and attended Officer’s Candidate School in Newport, RI.  After being commissioned as an officer he was stationed at the Naval Base in Bainbridge, MD where Curt and Debbie were married in a base chapel on August 31,1968.  He was honorably discharged from the Navy and the couple moved back to Fargo where Curt joined the Naval Reserves. 

He was always of an entrepreneurial spirit and wanted to start his own business.  Curt and Dennis Leno started Maintenance Engineering, a national long life lighting company in 1974.  He also started Kesselring Vineyards with his eldest son Jason, a winery using the native wild grapes of the area.  Curt was always searching for new business opportunities, and being the ambitious soul that he was, never wanted to retire. 

Curt could best be described as a “Family Man”, loving his family above all else.  He was also a very generous and giving person and contributed to many organizations of his liking, including, the military, health care, education, national parks, and politics. 

Curt was a perfectionist and appreciated quality in everything he did or that he owned.  He loved sports cars, especially convertibles, and owned many throughout his lifetime.  For recreation Curt loved downhill skiing, hiking, and enjoyed hunting in the mountains for elk, moose, and deer.  His hobby was photography, taking thousands of pictures of family and during his travels. 

Curt’s favorite place to vacation was Glacier National Park in Montana.  He and his wife would trailer their Harley Davidson Motorcycles there and tour the park, stopping at hiking trails along the way.  

Curt was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Adele (Tjenstrom) Kesselring from Washburn and his sister and brother-in-law Claudia  and Reed Loughlin from Weatherford Texas and his brother-in-law, Thomas Schulz from Washburn. 

Curt is survived by his wife of 57 years Debbie, their two sons, Jason Kesselring and his wife Chrissy, and Captain Brian Kesselring, USN and his wife Major Ashley, USMC.  Curt has 2 grandsons, Otto and Hugh Kesselring, and 4 granddaughters, Ayla, Remi, Alexi, and Siggi Kesselring.  He also has one sister, Colleen Schulz, of Washburn, ND, nieces, nephew and cousins. 

In lieu of flowers, all memorials can be sent to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Michel J Fox Foundation, the Dementia Society of America, Alzheimer’s Association, Roger Maris Cancer Center, or Glaucoma Research Foundation . 

Celebration of Life:  10:30a.m. Thursday, August 13, 2026, West Funeral Home, West Fargo.  

Visitation:  An hour before the service.

 Please mail donations to:

 The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research,

 P.O. Box 5014

 Hagerstown, MD 21741.

In Fargo:

4321 20th Ave S.

Fargo, ND 58103

Roger Maris Cancer Center

820 4th St N, Fargo, ND 58102

 (701) 234-6161

Alzheimer’s/Dementia – North Dakota

North Dakota Dept of Health and Human Services

600 East Boulevard Ave

Bismarck, ND  58505-0250

701-328-2310

Glaucoma Research Foundation

glaucomafoundation.org

West Funeral Home & Life Tribute Center

westfuneralhome.com

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