John J. Keane 1925 - 2014

KEANE, RANKE, LEONARD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/30/2014 at 13:01:30

Sioux City Journal
22 October 2014

SIOUX CITY | John J. Keane, 89, of Sioux City passed away Monday,Sept. 8, 2014, at his residence.

Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. The Rev. Daniel Rupp will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

John was born on July 25, 1925, in Sioux City, the son of Patrick and Gertrude (Ranke) Keane. He has a twin sister, Gert. John grew up in Sioux City and attended St. Boniface School. He graduated from Trinity High School. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was stationed in England and flew Liberators over Germany. He remained friends with his flight crew and attended several reunions. After the war he attended Iowa State University, where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

He married Frances Leonard on May 5, 1948, in Sioux City. They were married for 66 years. John owned and operated Crescent Park Hardware with his father-in-law, Buzz Leonard, from 1949 to 1960. He then worked as the purchasing agent for Bomgaars Supply for 19 years.

He was a lifelong Catholic and was active at St. Boniface, Cathedral, St. Michael and Blessed Sacrament parishes. He was an avid golfer and past president of the Sioux City Boat Club. He was a boisterous Notre Dame fan and could recite statistics from games long ago. He held many strong opinions which he shared often at the dinner table.

John struggled with diminished eyesight and failing health for the last 15 years of his life, but accomplished his final goal to pass peacefully in his sleep at his home.

Survivors include his wife, Frances of Sioux City; his children, Barb Taylor and her husband, Dr. Mark Taylor of Sioux City, Jack Keane and his wife, Angie of Denver, Colo., Colleen Norris and her husband, Rick of Lake Dillion, Colo., Lisa Pfeifle of Omaha, and Patrick Keane of Sioux City; his twin sister, Gertrude Reeves of Pueblo, Colo.; a sister, Frances Byrne of Sioux Falls, S.D.; 13 grandchildren, Brion Taylor (Karen), Kelly Taylor (Stacey), Brendan Taylor, Corey Taylor (Meghan), Jess Keane (Krissy), Tyler Keane, Zachary Norris, Alexis Norris, MacConner Norris, Keane Fillipi (Katie), Tiffany Granillo (Tony), Tracy Pfeifle and Amy Pfeifle; and eight great-grandchildren.