Kenneth Albert Keehn, 93

Kenneth Albert Keehn, 93, of Latimer, Iowa, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 7, 2021, at Franklin Country View Nursing Facility in Hampton with family by his side. 

Kenneth was born on October 10, 1927, on the family farm in rural Latimer, to Albert and Maggie Keehn. Kenneth was the youngest of 3 children and grew up working on the farm with his family raising a variety of crops and livestock. He has many stories about sheep, chickens, picking corn and baling hay. Kenneth graduated from Franklin Consolidated High School in Latimer and spent a semester at Iowa State College. On March 3, 1951, he was united in marriage to Elna Stratmann. He and Elna were active members of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer where Kenneth held several offices and served many years as the cemetery sexton.

Kenneth and Elna raised their family on their Century Farm while milking cows and growing corn and soybeans. He enjoyed watching his kids sporting events and coached several baseball teams. Kenneth lived on the family farm near Latimer until he retired and moved to town. After retiring from farming he spent much of his time entertaining his grandkids, family and friends with his creative ideas for fun on the farm. For the grandkids there were countless days of golf cart rides through the grove, swings and slides in the barn loft and pumpkin or gourd picking in the garden. Many bonfires were enjoyed in the summer, and sledding around the barn in the winter was a highlight.

Kenneth enjoyed spending time with his wife and family. He and Elna enjoyed golfing, playing cards, dancing at the Surf Ballroom and traveling around the United States delivering Winnebagos. After retirement, Kenneth and Elna spent winters in Texas with family and friends playing golf, eating out and sharing stories.

Kenneth’s love of history and story telling was well known and he continued to share his knowledge his whole life. He loved to look at photos he had taken of family and friends and also to reminisce about his younger days on the farm. The “coffee guys” could always count on a story or two from Kenneth.

Kenneth will be remembered by his son Bruce (Sandy) Keehn of Waukee, daughter Sandy (Jeff) Plagge of Spirit Lake, daughter Carol (Tom) Voelker of Latimer, grandchildren Bobbi (Joe) Sawhill, Ryan (Amber) Keehn, Tom (Heather) Plagge, Adam (Katie) Plagge, Brian (Nicole) Plagge, Ethan (Bethany) Voelker, Evan (Steph) Voelker, and Maggie (Jacob) Lage, and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Maggie, wife Elna, and son Doug.

A public visitation was held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer.  A private family service was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer, with burial in the church cemetery.  The Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home of Hampton assisted Kenneth’s family.