Louis "LaMoine" Keene

Louis "LaMoine" Keene, age 93, of McCook, NE passed away Friday, April 4, 2014 at Community Hospital of McCook.

Known to family and friends as LaMoine, Moine, Stringbean, Grandpa and GGpa was born to Louis R. Keene and Nellie (Cole) Keene on February 22, 1921, in McCook, NE. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Elaine, after celebrating 71 years of married life. He and Elaine (McClure) were married December 12, 1941, just five days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. In later years, after Elaine developed health problems, he was by her side and attentive for many years.

LaMoine graduated from McCook Sr. High, learned to play the trumpet under Pop Kelly, an instrument that he continued to enjoy playing throughout his adult life, by joining the Shrine Band and the Maverick Band.

After graduating from MCC he worked for the telephone company, JC Penney Co., then for the Burlington Railroad, until he was called to join the Army Air Corps. He was assigned to be a flight engineer in the B -29, and for that he traveled to numerous bases for training, with Elaine and infant daughter Dian following along. WWII ended just before his training ended, and was honorably discharged.

With a railroad job waiting for him back in McCook, he and Elaine moved back there to live, where their son Steve was born. He worked runs out of McCook as a trainman and as a conductor until his retirement at age 62.

LaMoine and Elaine loved dancing to the big band music and were great dancers. Retirement opened up chances for him to enjoy Nebraska football, bridge with the guys and more golf. He and Elaine also traveled with the Shrine Band playing his beloved trumpet, and was very active in the Masonic Temple. When Heritage Hills was being established, he helped build the club house. He also served on the McCook Hospital board, the United Methodist Board of Trustees, plus played in the church handbell choir. He volunteered to do taxes, and delivered meals on wheels.

During the years he extended his woodworking and thoroughly enjoyed his workshop, framing most of Elaine's pictures, did hand carving, built furniture, cabinets, and doing much of the finished work on the two homes that they built, plus helped build his daughter's home.

Preceding him are his parents, his brother Harold and twin brothers. Grateful for having him be a loving father are his daughter Dian Trail and husband, Chuck; son Steve Keene, and wife, Patty all of McCook. He was a loving grandfather and thoroughly enjoyed doing things with his two grandchildren, Cynthia Trail Kemling and husband, Mark of Omaha, Dr. Kynan Trail and wife, Nancy of Yankton, SD; step grandchildren, Camila, Felipe and Agustin Tagle of Chile. He touched the lives of his four great grandchildren Manny Cook, Michaela, Jenna and Ryan Trail in many ways; other great grandchildren, Kristel Miller and husband, Jason of Des Moines, IA, Erica Kemling and husband, Nick of Souix City, IA and two great great grandchildren. Other living survivors are his sister, LaVaughn Zink, of Denver, CO; numerous Cole cousins and families living in Curtis; nieces, Mary Croskrey of Eugene, OR, Linda Wall of Strasburg, CO; and nephew Lynn Zink of Salina, KS and their families.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 from 1:00 to 8:00 PM at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with Rev. Dr. Doug Griger and Alisa Parde officiating. Inurnment will take place at a later date.

Memorials are suggested to the Memorial United Methodist Church.