KELLER, Fred W. 1925-2005

KELLER, THOMPSON, OHRT

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/11/2015 at 19:49:18

Fred "Bud" W. Keller, 80, of Hudson, Iowa, died Tuesday, August 30, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Friday, September 2, 2005, at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck, Iowa, with Pastor Randy McGrady Beach officiating. Burial will follow at the Reinbeck City Cemetery in Reinbeck. Visitation will be Thursday, September 1, 2005, from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at French Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Bud was born May 10, 1925, in rural Kensett, Iowa, the son of Fred William and Hattie Mae (Thompson) Keller. Bud spent his early years in Kensett and then moved with his family to Mahomet, Illinois, where he started school. His family then moved to Grundy Center, Iowa, for one year before moving to Reinbeck, where he graduated from Reinbeck High School in 1944. On June 21, 1944, Bud was united in marriage to Eloise Jean Ohrt in Waterloo, Iowa. After their marriage the couple made their home in rural Reinbeck for two years before moving to rural Hudson where they have lived and worked on the same farm for the past fifty-nine years. Bud farmed his entire life and had also been employed by the John Deere Experimental Farm from 1964 to 1966. He retired from active farming on May 10, 1987, but continued to help out on the farm. Bud had been a member of the Cedar Valley Chapter of the Polka Club of Iowa, and the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck. Bud and Eloise spent a number of years wintering in Arizona. He loved to polka, and he loved spending time with his many grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Eloise Keller of Hudson, Iowa; four sons, Dan Keller and his wife Ann of Rosebud, Arkansas; Bruce Keller and his wife Susan of Morrison, Iowa; R. Bink Keller and his wife Karen of Forest City, Iowa; and William (Bill) Keller and his wife Yvonne of Dike, Iowa; one daughter Gail Clapp of Urbandale, Iowa; fifteen grandchildren; four step grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; and one step great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Hattie Keller; one son-in-law Joe Clapp; an infant brother Roy Keller; five half brothers Wesley, Bert, Ray, Arthur, and Albert Saltou; and two half sisters Ethel and Vera Saltou.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)