Notice!!!!!! Military Funeral Honors will be held September 15, 2025 at 12:30pm at Georgia National Cemetery. Please arrive early to line up.

Wendell "Rusty" Kestle, Jr., 59, of Dallas, GA, passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Rusty was born in San Fernando Valley, CA in 1965 to Wendell R. Kestle and Anne M. Kestle. He graduated from Grissom High School in Huntsville, AL, and then from Auburn University, in Auburn, AL, before going to work in the field of environmental protection with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and most recently with the Environmental Protection Agency. Rusty was preceded in death by his mother, father, and sister Joan M. Kestle. He is survived by his son, Scott E. Kestle and daughter, Michelle A. Kestle of Dallas, GA, and by his sister Martha (Tim) Emami of Santa Cruz, CA. He is also survived by his dear friend/ex-wife, Jean M. Kestle. Rusty enjoyed spending time with his children and hiking in the great outdoors. He also loved participating in Civil War reenactments, especially at Pickett's Mill Battlefield, where he also volunteered. Rusty served his country in the United States Army (a veteran) and the Georgia National Guard, 277 th Maintenance Company, where he received orders to report to active duty in Kuwait in 2003 as part of the Global War on Terror, and was called to help with relief efforts in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He volunteered with the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF) where he served on missions for relief efforts for natural disasters such hurricanes and floods, and helped with community programs such as "Shop with a Cop." Rusty was also a member of the American Legion, where he served as a funeral honor guard at several ceremonies and laid Christmas wreaths at veterans' grave sites at the Georgia National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rusty's memory may be made to the Association of the Georgia State Defense Force (AGSDF), which was very dear to him. AGSDF is the non-profit organization that supports the GSDF. Please contact CSM Cindy Dunlap via email: cindy.dunlap@gasdf.us to donate.

Celebration of Life ~ Sunday, July 20, 2025 at 2:00 pm Chapel of Collins Funeral Home

The family invites you to join them for a reception following the Celebration of Life.

Interment with Military Honors will be held at a later date at Georgia National Cemetery.