Alvin "Earl" Kesler, 67, of Brookston, died Tuesday, February 28, 2012 in French Lick, Indiana, where he was vacationing with his wife and friends. He was born July 10, 1944 in his home in Monon to the late Ivan and Jennie (Garling) Kesler. He graduated from Monon High School in 1962. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant from the United States Marines on July 28, 1968 after serving 4 years in the infantry during the Vietnam War. He also worked as a Military Police Officer at the Nuclear Submarine Naval Base in Groton, Connecticut. His marriage was to Connie Jo Quade on June 5, 1966 at the Methodist Church in Monon, Indiana. She survives. He worked at Eli Lilly Tippecanoe Laboratories of Lafayette in Antibiotic Purification Department TL443 from September 9, 1968 until his retirement in 1999. He helped the Lehe and Hendryx families farm for over 40 years, and he also helped his cousin, Dave Kesler, with his backhoe business. Alvin was a member of the American Legion of Lafayette #492 and the Masonic Lodge. He was a volunteer firefighter for the Brookston Volunteer Fire Department and also at Eli-Lilly, 4-H leader for Prairie Ag until 2008, and served on the Board of Directors of the White County Ag Association for Prairie Township. As a young man, he enjoyed hunting and horseback riding and later returned to his roots of farming and raising cattle. He enjoyed his cottage in Lake Cumberland, Kentucky to be with his family and friends, boating and fishing. After his bypass surgery in 1998, he developed a love for building and flying remote control model airplanes with his good friend Don White. Most importantly, he loved spending time with his family and dogs Buddy, Tank and Duke, whom he adored. Surviving with his wife are four children, Andrew and Doug Kesler both of Brookston, Audra Benson (husband: Will) of Lafayette and Barbara Kesler of Lehigh Acres near Fort Myers, Florida, his twin brother, Ivan Carl Kesler (wife: Linda) of Monticello, two sisters, Jenna Doyle of Dayton, Ohio and Doris Griffin (husband: Don) of Monon, and three grandchildren, Steven Kesler, whom he adopted, of Lafayette and Zachary and Taylor Gardner of Geneva, Iowa. He was preceded in death by a sister, Peggy Doyle. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 2, 2012 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 3, 2012 also at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Lelan McReynolds officiating. Interment to follow at Bedford Cemetery of Monon. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Prairie Township 4-H Club of Brookston, American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.