James "Don" Donald Keeler
June 3, 1918 — February 9, 2006
James “Don” Donald Keeler passed away Thursday, February 9, 2006, at Haven Manor in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 87 years old.
He was born June 3, 1918 in Fairmont, Nebraska to James B. and Hannah A. (Davis) Keeler. He attended a country school in Filmore County, and then graduated from Fairmont High in 1935.
He married JoEllyn Stromp on June 29, 1952 in Albion, Nebraska. To this union three children were born. He owned and operated Keeler’s House of Bottles in Culbertson for 29 years and he enjoyed traveling with his family.
He served in the United States Army during WWII from June of 1943 to October of 1945. He had Basic Training at Camp Walters in Texas and at Camp Gruber in Oklahoma. He was shipped overseas to Iran where he spent two years and then spent seven months in France. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Tec 4 classification. He loved baseball which he was able to play in both Iran and France competing in tournaments in both countries.
He was a member of the Culbertson American Legion and past Commander of Moorhous-Steffen-Propp VFW Post # 6219.
“Dad was an honorable man and a selfless and loving father.”
He was preceded in death by parents, wife, JoEllyn in March of 1999; sister, Alice Ritchey; and a brother Kenneth Keeler.
Survivors include sons, Kenneth Keeler and wife Barbara of Langhorne, PA., James A. Keeler and wife Laurie of Lincoln; daughter, Janna Johansen and husband Mark of North Platte; four grandchildren, Christopher Don Keeler and wife Angela of Lancaster, PA., Matthew Jon Keeler of Langhorne, PA., Shannon Lea Keeler of Lincoln and James Benjamin Keeler of Lincoln; special sisters-in-law Mary Jumps of Culbertson, and Jean Bittner of Albion; and nieces and nephews.
Memorials were to be given to the Disabled American Veterans.
Funeral services were at Carpenter Breland Chapel on Friday, February 17, at 9:30 a.m. with Jerry Beckenhauer officiating. Burial took place in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell at 11:30 a.m.
Carpenter Breland Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.