Ketels, Walter H. 1910-1998

KETELS, PAETZ, MILLER, WOOD, WILLETT, SPAIN, KUDART, WALSH, STITES, RICHARDS, ELLIOTT

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 11/1/2012 at 10:17:05

The Montezuma (IA) Republican; Aug. 12, 1998

WALTER KETELS, 88

Walter H. Ketels, 88, of Montezuma, died Friday, Aug. 7, 1998 at the Montezuma Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

The funeral was Aug. 10 at Watts Funeral Home with the Rev. H. Burr Bryant of United Methodist Church officiating.

Organist Kathleen Ramsey played "How Great Thou Art," "Amazing Grace" and "Good Night and Good Morning."

Casket bearers were Bill Gorsuch, Ted Kudart, Jack Grife, Verne Grife, Keith Walsh and Joe Grife. Ralph Walsh was an honorary casket bearer.

Burial was in Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma.

Walter was born Feb. 22, 1910 near Van Horne, the son of John and Hulda (Paetz) Ketels. He attended rural schools in Benton County.

In 1935, he was united in marriage with Leah Maxine Miller in New Sharon. The couple had four children.

Walter farmed south of Montezuma from 1940 until retirement in 1976, when the family moved into town.

Maxine passed away in 1982.

Walter married LaVan Walsh in 1986.

He was a member of the Montezuma United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine; an infant son, Steven Jon; his parents; two brothers, Harry and Fred; and a sister, Hilda Wood.

He is survived by his wife, LaVan; three daughters, Karen Kay Willett of Brooklyn, Judith Jo Ketels of Arlington, Vt. and Sheryl Rae Spain and her husband, Darrell of Montezuma; three grandsons, Jeff and Jim Spain and David Willett; one great-grandson, Brian Willett; a step-daughter, Marna Kudart and her husband, Ted of Montezuma; a step-son, Keith Walsh and his wife, Doris of Montezuma; three step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ellen Stites of Des Moines, Minnie Richards of Marshalltown and Mary Elliott of Montezuma; other relatives and many friends.

Memorials may be made to Grinnell Hospice or the Montezuma Volunteer Fire Department.