Noel M. Cessna Jr.
Cessna, Jr., Noel M., 83, beloved, kind, husband, father and friend, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Thursday, March 29, 2007. Visitation 1:00 ~ 3:00 P.M., Sunday, April 1, Downing Lahey Mortuary East. Service 10:00 A.M., Monday, April, 2, Messiah Baptist Church. Noel was born on June 22, 1923 to Noel M. and Helen E. Cessna, in Rago, KS. He spent his youthful days on the Cessna Farm near Rago, in close proximity to his Uncle Clyde Cessnas “shop and hanger” where the early airplanes were constructed. It was there that Noel developed a deep desire to fly. Mr. Cessna was an expert pilot having flown over 60 types of airplanes and has logged over 15,000 hours. He began his flying career at the age of eighteen and considered his Uncle Clyde Cessna, his mentor. He flew in the All American Air Races and countless exhibition presentations. Noel served as a fighter pilot in the U. S. Air Force for 29 years; during WWII, the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam, including Reserve Air Corp. Duty. He flew Fighter Cover at the former SAC Command, in the Kansas Air National Guard, Also, the Ohio National Guard, retiring from military service in May of 1971. The science and practice of “flight was his “life interest”. Mr. Cessna was diagnosed with AML Leukemia in 1996. God has blessed him with a lengthened earthly life until the present time. Mr. Cessna served as the Senior Commercial and Industrial Engineer for Halls Wichita Culligan, from 1983 until retirement in June 20, 2002 at the age of 79, where he has many dear friends and accomplishments. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Cessna of the home; a “special daughter”, Bonnie Cramer and her husband, Dakin Cramer, of Wichita; sons, Joel and Noel, III, both of Wooster, OH and a daughter, Jolene Cessna, also of Wooster, OH; brother, Delmer Cessna of Orlando, FL. Mr. Cessna was a long-time member of First Bible Baptist Church and Messiah Baptist Church, both in Wichita. He accepted Christ as his personal Savior in 1980; loving the Lord, His Service and His promise of Eternal Life. Please send memorials to Messiah Baptist Church, 12200 E. 21st, Wichita, KS, 67206 and Everyday Heroes, Inc., 9417 Greenbriar Ct., Wichita, KS, 67226. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
Visitation with family 1:00 ~ 3:00 PM, Sunday, April 1, Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
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(((I posted this to the Culligan dealer website earlier today))) Noel Cessna, a co-worker, mentor, friend and father figure to me, passed away Thursday morning in Wichita. In 1982, after retiring from the Air Force, Noel and his wife Pattie moved to a rural home near Wichita. It was a beautiful place, but the well water was terrible and there wasn’t much of it. So, being the engineer and fix-it man he was, Noel figured he could take water from the river and use it. Easy, right? So he called Culligan for some help. Of course, our guys knew little to nothing about how to do this so he researched it, spec’d the equipment (including the pumps and pipe to get the water up a large bluff to the house), and we installed it in his garage. (He was the water expert, not us!) Shortly thereafter, we asked him to become the first Commercial Sales and Engineering Rep for us in this market. He said yes, and began his second career, this time as a Culligan Man. He was one of the most successful C and I guys in the Culligan system, and in my opinion, the best. He was District Salesman of the Year several times, invented and engineered a process to re-use antifreeze by running it through DI tanks, and installed the first system to make sodium-free soda (for RC Cola). His customers leaned on him for technical assistance, his co-workers valued his help, and I reveled in his willingness to roll up his sleeves and make the equipment work. I learned many things from Noel in the 14 years worked with him: how to take care of customers, how to design a commercial water system, how to be a gentleman, and how to interact with co-workers, being but a few. There is no doubt in my mind that Noel’s skills and commitment to Culligan of Wichita have been monumentally instrumental in the growth and success of our company. Without Noel, this would not be nearly as good a place for his co-workers to work, or for our customers to find solutions to their water problems. Noel touched many Culligan people all over the world, and he was willing to help all that called for assistance. He was a great friend to me, and I owe him an immeasurable amount of thanks for his guidance and leadership. With much love I say he will be missed by all in the Hall family CR Hall chall@hallswater.com
Patty, Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family at this time. Lynette and I have fond memories of you and Noel. We are grateful that you two wonderful, special people came into our lives. God has another angel with Noel! Hallelujah!
I met Noel when my dearest friend Pattie introduced us. They were dating and very soon it was evident that they were in love. It was such a special time to see their love blossom and mature. They were both loving and caring to me when my dear husband Ted Chapman passed away. Advancing many years, I returned to Wichita for a short visit, was invited to share dinner with Pattie and Noel at the Country Club. Noel made me feel honored when they arrived at the hotel in a very special car rented for that evening. He was always attentive to the details that made one feel important and valued. Another important occasion was when they shared a picture of Noel and my deceased oldest Son, Doug Dumler, taken at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Az. Perhaps they will be chatting together about the ‘gold old days of flying’ now. He was a special man.
Patty, Noel was a gentleman and a Christian in every sense of the word – he leaves a tremendous void, especially for you. May our Lord minister to your every need in the days ahead – according to His great riches. Multiple grace ~~ Royal and Mari Power
Although I only knew Noel a short time, I quickly saw he was a wonderful man. He made a tremendous impact on the staff of my hospital unit and will not be forgotten. He had a special soul and made everyone else feel special too. God Bless Mr. Cessna.
This is over nine years too late, but I just discovered Noel’s death a few moments ago while searching for some data on a Cessna aircraft. I was an Intelligence Instructor at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona. In the early 1960s, Noel went through my 111105B Academic Intelligence Program. Our building was a High Security area so we were always in very close proximity to one another. I can clearly recall him as a very jovial and bright student who made friends with everyone in our our staff, from the OIC to the janitor.