James Ralph Keeling

KEELING, LIVINGSTONE, VIGIL, HENNING, LETZ

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 8/2/2011 at 11:42:07

James Ralph Keeling, 59, of Iowa City died at his home. A gathering of his friends has been arranged at Old Brick, 26 East Market Street, Iowa City on Tuesday, August 9th at 5pm – casual attire. A funeral service will take place at the Carlisle Christian Church, Carlisle, Iowa at 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 2nd.

Jim Keeling was born on May 3, 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa to Floyd W. and Carol E. Keeling. He was a graduate of Carlisle High School and went on to receive a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Iowa. He continued to live in Iowa City, where for the greatest part of his life he was self employed in the construction and repair of homes.

Jim enjoyed the outdoors and especially his garden. He was keenly interested in current events and had an extensive knowledge of history. His inquisitive intellect gave him the ability to figure out how things worked, which enabled him to fix almost anything. He enjoyed neighborhood gatherings and potlucks. He was a kindhearted man who traveled to Florida to help friends repair their home following damage from a tornado. Just before returning home, a tornado hit Iowa City and Jim volunteered to help in his neighborhood.

Jim was preceded in death by his father. Survivors include his mother, Carol Keeling of Des Moines; sister Julie Keeling and nieces Emma and Marie Keeling of Groton, MA; brother Tom of Wentzville, MO; brother John of Iowa City; step-sisters Kay Livingstone, Nancy (Jim) Vigil, Joyce Henning, Beth Henning, and Cora (John) Letz; as well as nieces and nephews in the Henning family.

The Lensing Funeral Home in Iowa City was in charge of the cremation. Cremains will be buried at a later time in Avon Cemetery in southeast Des Moines. Online condolences may be left at www.lensingfuneral.com. Contributions can be made in Jim’s name to Doctors Without Borders, 323 Seventh Ave, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10001; the Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Ave, Nebraska City, NE 68410; or a charity of your choice.