Clifford Luewelyn KEELING

KEELING, WHITE, THURMAN, OWEN, SHINABARGER, ROE, KNOX

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/7/2009 at 11:02:26

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, Iowa
February 5, 2009

Clifford Luewelyn Keeling, age 91, of Clarion passed away Monday, January 26, 2009 at Wright Medical Center, Clarion. Funeral services for Clifford Keeling were held Friday, January 30, 2009 at the Clarion Church of Christ in Clarion with Rev. Warren Curry officiating. Burial was at Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. Military graveside services were provided by the Clarion American Legion and VFW Posts.

Clifford, the son of William and Ruth (White) Keeling, was born May 5, 1917 in Clear Lake, Minnesota. The family moved to the Clarion area when Clifford was a baby. He grew up in the Clarion area living on land where his parents farmed. Clifford worked as a farmhand until he entered the Navy in 1942. While serving his country, Clifford was stationed aboard the Battle Ship North Carolina, and in Hawaii. He was Honorably discharged in November of 1945.

Clifford was united in marriage to Irene Thurman on November 20, 1945. Following his marriage, Clifford worked around Clarion as a farmhand before moving to Riceville, in March of 1958 to work 50/50 on a farm. In the fall of 1964, the couple bought a farm in Aldrich, Minnesota, and also worked for Surge Milking Equipment. They sold the farm in 1974 and purchased a home in Staples, Minnesota. At that time he started working for Giza Plumbing in Staples. While living in Staples, Clifford also had his own saw sharpening service. The couple moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas in 1979 and lived there for 20 years, returning to Clarion in June of 1999 to finish out his retirement.

Clifford is survived by his wife, Irene of Clarion; one son, Joseph Keeling and wife Susan of Riceville; three daughters, Marsha Owen and husband, William of Staples, Minnesota; Nancy Shinabarger of Owatonna, Minnesota; and Sally Roe and husband, Rodney of West Fargo, North Dakota; a son-in-law, Sherman Knox of Nevis, Minnesota; 13 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Rosemary; a grandson, Sherman Knox, Jr.; two sisters and three brothers.