Keith Richard Fessler

Keith Richard Fessler, age 55, of Indianapolis, Indiana passed away on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Keith was born in Richmond, Indiana to Patricia Fessler and James Fessler. Keith was a 1987 graduate of Richmond High School. After high school, Keith attended Purdue University. He was a Spanish teacher at Eastern (Howard) Jr/Sr High School and Avon High School prior to being Assistant Principal and Principal at New Palestine High School and New Palestine Junior High. Keith was a member of the Indiana Association of School Principals. He was named District 10 High School Principal of the Year in 2013, 2016 and 2017. He was named 2017 State High School Principal of the Year. During his retirement he taught driver’s education and developed quite a fan club.

Keith impacted the lives of many young people throughout his life, but none more than his three boys Grant (16), Quinn (14) and Reid (12). He frequently told the boys his favorite thing to do was be their dad. He lived his love of sports through coaching many basketball and baseball teams for his sons over the years. He loved nothing more than sitting in the dugout, on the sidelines and in the bleachers cheering for the kids’ teams.

Keith drew people in with his off brand sense of humor. He used humor to diffuse difficult situations, in both his personal life and professional life, as a way to break an awkward silence and for the purpose of just being downright annoying. His humor carried on throughout his cancer diagnosis and treatment as he frequently told his medical caregivers they were the nicest people he wished he’d never met.

Keith and his family received excellent care and support from his team of medical professionals through IU Health and the Sarah Cannon Cancer Network. His life was enriched by the people he met through his treatment journey and his family is grateful for five years of wonderful memories following his diagnosis of colon cancer in 2019. Dr. Andrew Greenspan and Danielle Dwenger, RN certainly earned their paychecks while caring for Keith and were instrumental in giving Keith the courage to fight. They went above and beyond every step of the way.

Keith is survived by his wife, Annemarie Fessler; his son Grant Fessler; his son Quinn Fessler; and his son Reid Fessler; his father James Fessler and his mother Patricia Fessler; his brother Kyle Fessler (Amy Guerrettaz); his nephew Alexander Fessler, his niece Abigail Fessler and his nephew Jacob Fessler; his sister-in-law Lori Wheeler (Seamus); his nephew Owen Wheeler; his niece Maura Wheeler and his nephew Liam Wheeler.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you for the overwhelming amount of prayers, support and love they’ve received through both words and actions during this #fesslerfight journey. The unique anchor provided by the friends and families of Grant, Quinn and Reid, as well as Keith and Annemarie, has given the family the stability, comfort and love they’ve needed to endure Keith’s illness.

Visitation for Keith will be held Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana. Keith’s family requests visitors wear Purdue gear or black and gold. Yes, even IU fans. Boiler Up! Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Keith's memory may be made to the Heroes Foundation or the Fessler boys’ Indiana 529 Savings Plan.