Keehn, Charles E. 1933-2018

KEEHN, EBY, ATKINS, LAKE, RUSH

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 6/4/2018 at 09:46:50

Charles E. Keehn
LeMars Daily Sentinel
Tuesday, May 8, 2018

Charles E. Keehn, 84, of Seney, died Thursday, May 3, 2018, at his home.

Charles Eby Keehn was born Dec. 14, 1933, in Hudson, South Dakota, to Robert H. and Darledmond (Eby) Keehn. The family eventually moved to Hawarden where Charles graduated from high school. Following school, he worked as a land surveyor building highways in southeast Iowa.

He enlisted in the United States Air Force on May 11, 1953. Charles served overseas in Japan and two tours in Alaska. He married Barbara M. Atkins on June 26, 1953. Charles earned an Honorable Discharge and returned to Hawarden.

He took a position in Alaska helping to build the pipeline. When that work was complete, he returned to Hawarden and worked for Midwest Paving. Barbara died on March 30, 1982.

Charles married Doris Lake on July 9, 1983, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hawarden. They made their home in Seney. He worked at John Deere and Sioux Automation. Doris died on Dec, 15, 2004.

On May 26, 2005, he married Lesley Rush in Reno, Nevada. They made their home in Seney.

In Charles’ retirement years, he operated C.K. Welding, repairing area farmer’s equipment.
In younger years, he raced motorcycles for Yamaha in Japan and the United States. He enjoyed gardening and lapidary.

Those left to cherish Charles’ memories are his wife, Lesley of Seney; children, Karla Von Hagel of Orange City, Robert D. and Barbara Keehn of Hawarden, Cynthia M. Arms of Cherokee, Charles E. II and Elyssa Keehn of Livonia, Michigan, and Faith G. Keehn and Marvin J. Juzek of Sioux Center; stepchildren: Mary Hull of Searcy, Arkansas, Denise Lake of Mesa, Arizona, Donna and Gary Wichers of Rock Valley, Rhonda Sutton of Mesa, Arizona, Joanie Jeanminette and Kurt of Waco, Texas, and Tamera Tinner and Kevin of New Berg, Oregon; 25 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; a sister, Wanda Miller of Beresford, South Dakota; and a brother, Robert L. Keehn of Hawarden.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, Barbara and Doris; daughter, Patricia Criddle; two grandsons, Jason Finch and Mickey Harding; a son-in-law, Don Hull; and a sister, Orlean Beaubien.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, at Grace Lutheran Church in Le Mars. The Rev. Timothy Geitz will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m., today (Tuesday), at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church prior to the service on Wednesday.