Verlyn D. KEELING

KEELING, DRESHER, VAN RADEN, CURRAN, DELGER, WEIMANN, SOUTHARD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/4/2009 at 18:52:09

ROWAN, IA - Verlyn D. Keeling, 62, of Rowan, longtime owner of Keeling's Auto Repair in Belmond, and a native of Rowan, died unexpectedly Sunday (Aug. 2, 2009) at Mary Greeley Medical Center, Ames. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009, at the United Church of Rowan, 811 Pesch St., with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister, officiating. Burial with full military honors will be in the Allison Municipal Cemetery, Allison. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, and continue one hour prior to services on Wednesday at the church. Memorials are suggested to the family in Verlyn's name, 2097 Victor Ave., Rowan, IA, 50470.

Verlyn, the son of Orie and Alice (Dresher) Keeling, was born on May 19, 1947, at Clarion. He was raised in Clarion, where he attended and graduated from Clarion schools in the high school class of 1965. Following his schooling, he served in the United States Army in Korea. He was honorably discharged after two years of service as a sergeant. Verlyn was united in marriage to Joyce Van Raden, on Oct. 5, 1969, at the Presbyterian Church, Clarion. The couple's union was blessed with two sons, Chadly and Robby. Verlyn was an auto mechanic for nearly 38 years, spending two years operating a mechanic's shop in Eldon, Mo., following their marriage before commencing his career as owner of Keeling's Auto Repair in Belmond which he operated for 36 years serving Belmond and the surrounding communities. He had also worked for a time for Wright County.

Verlyn was not only proficient with his skills and knowledge of auto mechanics and repair work, but could also fix or build almost anything he was able to put his hands upon, whether, it was plumbing, wiring, or a variety of other handyman tasks. He was always willing to drop what he was doing to help others in their time of need. Verlyn spent a great many years with the Belmond-Klemme Community Schools mentoring students in the job shadow program teaching them the skills and knowledge of his chosen trade. First and foremost in Verlyn's life were times spent with his wife and two son's and their families. He cherished each and every opportunity to spend time with his grandchildren. He loved to watch his son, Robby race in Sno Cross races and enjoyed time spent following both son's activities. He had also enjoyed times spent square dancing and raising wild flowers in "Keeling Park" where he lived.

Verlyn loved to pursue his passions of hunting pheasants, deer, and other game with his family and friends, regardless of the weapon of choice, be it a gun, or his compound bow. He looked forward to countless hours of friendly yet, competitive games of "500" and other card games. Verlyn was always a people person and loved to host gatherings of friends and family. Many friends would stop by his repair shop for some of his famous grilling of pizza, pies, biscuits, and other cuisine on his famous grill. He also loved to host super bowl, Nascar, and other parties at his home in Rowan. He loved going to the races and had just attended them in Newton, on Saturday with his two sons and had just returned from an enjoyable Alaskan cruise with his wife on Friday. Verlyn was a life time member of the Belmond VFW Post No. 4244 and the North Iowa River Rider's Snowmobile Club.

Verlyn relished any opportunity that included his favorite past time of fishing. He looked forward to excursions to Canada, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas. He loved to go river fishing in Chamberlain, S.D., salmon fishing in Lake Michigan, ice fishing, and trout stream fishing in northeast Iowa. He loved to pursue a variety of species and had quite a collection of tackle and gear.

His life and memory will live on in the lives of his wife and life partner of nearly 40 years, Joyce Keeling, of Rowan; sons, Chadly (Jan) Keeling and their son, Adam, and twins, Katelyn and Allison, of Des Moines, and Robby (Carisa) Keeling and their daughter, Ava and son, Blake, of Ames; his mother-in-law, Hinderene Van Raden, of Waverly; sisters, Shirley (Gerald) Curran, of Kansas City, Mo., Beverly (Robert) Delger, of Clarion, Judy (Roger) Weimann, of Belmond, and Lois (Raymond) Southard, of Clarion; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his mother and father. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
August 4, 2009