William J. KEENAN

KEENAN, REGAN, COOLMAN, HORACEK, KELLY, CIMELEY, CATTNACH, WARD, LUND, EVANS, GARD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/22/2010 at 10:42:34

February 15, 1925 - July 14, 2010

William J. Keenan died peacefully at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Wednesday July 14, 2010. Funeral services were held Friday, July 16th at St. George Catholic Church, Hartford, South Dakota.

William was born February 15, 1925 in Fonda, the son of William A. and Norine (Regan) Keenan. After graduating from Schaller High School, he joined the Army Air Force from 1943-1946 and 1951-1952. He was a staff sergeant. He then attended the Commercial Extension School of Business in Omaha, Nebraska. He married Eleanor Coolman on May 9, 1951. He worked as an area manager for Iowa Public Service for 25 years in Odeboldt, Carroll and Clarion, retiring in 1985. Bill was very involved in his church and community and held offices in American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Rotary Club. He served on the Board of Directors for Iowa Easter Seals for eight years. He was a member of the Wright County Veterans' Affairs Commission for 10 years. One of his great joys was being a camp counselor for Iowa Boys State for many years. He also served as mayor of Clarion for two years. He moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2001. Bill was devoted to his family and planned a vacation at Okoboji each summer for his children and grandchildren. He was proud of his Irish heritage. He taught us about serving others by his acts of kindness and generosity to those in need.

He is survived by his children: Katherine of Omaha, Nebraska, Valerie (Darrell) Horacek of Hartford, South Dakota, Billie (Harold) Kelly of Mitchell, South Dakota, Georgia (Mark) Cimeley of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Jeri (Bruce) Cattnach of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Wright County Monitor, Clarion, IA
July 22, 2010

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William J. Keenan died peacefully at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, S.D. on Wednesday July 14, 2010. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 16, 2010, at 6:00 pm, St. George Catholic Church, Hartford, SD. Visitation will begin at 4:00 pm, July 16, at St. George Catholic Church with the Rosary beginning at 5:30 pm.

William was born on February 15, 1925 in Fonda, IA, to William A. and Norine (Regan) Keenan. After graduating from Schaller High School, he joined the Army Air Force from 1943-1946 and 1951-1952. He was a staff sergeant. He then attended the Commercial Extension School of Business in Omaha, NE. He married Eleanor Coolman on May 9, 1951. He worked as an area manager for Iowa Public Service for 25 years in Odebolt, Carroll and Clarion, IA and retired in 1985. Bill was very involved in his church and community and held offices in American Legion, Knights of Columbus and Rotary Club. He served on the Board of Directors for Iowa Easter Seals for 8 years. He was a member of the Wright County Veteran Affairs Commission for 10 years. One of his great joys was being a camp counselor for Iowa Boys State for many years. He also served as mayor of Clarion for 2 years. He moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. in 2001. Bill was devoted to his family and planned a vacation at Okoboji each summer for his children and grandchildren. He was proud of his Irish heritage. He taught us about serving others by his acts of kindness and generosity to those in need.

He is survived by his children: Katherine of Omaha, NE, Valerie (Darrell) Horacek of Hartford, S.D., Billie (Harold) Kelly of Mitchell, S.D., Georgia (Mark) Cimeley of La Crosse, WI, and Jeri (Bruce) Cattnach of Sioux Falls, S.D. His grandchildren: Megan Horacek, Kimberly (Zac) Ward, Erin Horacek, Eric (Michelle) Kelly, Ann Kelly, Matthew Kelly and Ellen Kelly, Joseph Lund, and Erica Cattnach. His great grandchildren: Hendrix and Harper Ward. His siblings, Bob (Barb) Keenan of Fort Morgan, CO, Joan (Richard) Evans of Bettendorf, IA , and John (Judie) Keenan of Houston, TX, and brother-in-law Vermayne Gard of Storm Lake, IA. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, two infant children, Joseph and Mary, an infant grandchild, Colleen Kelly, and a sister, RoseMarie (Vermayne) Gard. Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Avera Prince of Peace Assisted Living and Dougherty Hospice House, where memorials may be sent.

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