Hollis H. Keele

Hollis Harl Keele was born August 8, 1916 in Hendrickson, Missouri, son of Harlin and Pearl (Sexton) Keele. He was raised with three older sisters and three younger sisters. At the age of eight, he moved and attended school in Laurens, Iowa. As he grew, Hollis was taught carpentry and farming by his father. Hollis’ high school football team won the conference title during his junior year and he was recognized as all-conference guard. After high school, Hollis farmed near Laurens until he joined the army. Before leaving for war, Hollis married his sweetheart June Jewel Hulsebus on December 11, 1941. He served in the 90th Infantry Dicision/357th known as The Tough Ombres, and saw heavy action in France and Germany during WWII. After the War, Hollis began his career in carpentry and construction in Denison, Iowa. As a junior partner in the H. R. H. Co., Hollis worked his way up to senior partner and the company was renamed Welch and Keele Construction Co. Hollis helped develop 20 acres of 51 lots and built 50 homes in the Morningside Addition and later 23 homes in the Sunrise Addition as well as many other projects in Denison and the surrounding communities. He devoted himself to teaching young men his trade and several were able to move on and start their own companies. He also built and operated a ten-unit apartment house, which he and June designed. Hollis was a member of the United First Methodist Church, and active in Methodist Men and softball league. His carpentry skills were utilized in building the kitchen of the new church’s educational building. Hollis was a devoted husband and loving father of three children- Jerry Hollis 5/3/49, Jimmy Harl 11/11/52, and Jane Helene 5/20/55. He built a playground in the yard for his children that included a jungle-gym, sandbox, and swing. As the family grew, he never missed watching nephews and sons playing football and basketball and his daughter cheerleading. Like his wife, Hollis never missed an opportunity to encourage and teach his children. Both Jerry and Jim worked for his company and learned first-hand the tricks of the trade. Even Jane was taught to help with smaller construction projects from time to time. Hollis considered that no job was worth doing unless doing it well. He could fix anything. He would go into the garage, find the appropriate item, and repair wherever needed to be fixed better than new. Hollis and June retired in 1977 and moved to Camdenton, Missouri. He continued to work in carpentry part-time and enjoyed spending time at the Senior Center for lunches and dancing. He volunteered his carpentry skills at the Senior Center and served as President. He retired from all activities to care for June during her final two-year illness. June died July 28, 1995. In recent years, Hollis has enjoyed the delightful company of Aurelia Snelling and family and is now living at Laurie Care Center, Laurie, MO. Hollis died Wednesday, December 15, 2010, at the Laurie Care Center in Laurie, Missouri. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 94 years, 4 months and 7 days. Including his parents, and his wife, June, Hollis was also preceded in death by one son: Jimmy Keele; and three sisters: Atha Muller, Muriel Hemmerick and Verna Brown. Those remaining to cherish his memory include one son: Jerry Keele and wife, Kathy Grabau of Ankeny, Iowa; one daughter: Jane Keele and husband, Jack Shultz of Iowa City, Iowa; four grandchildren: Jason Keele of Chandler, Arizona, Jaquel Keele and husband, Mike Good of Des Moines, Iowa, Kalvin Grabau-Keele and wife, Paige of Ankeny, Iowa, and Jennifer Keele and husband, Nate Herick of Ames, Iowa; one great-grandson: Kyler Heckinger of Des Moines, Iowa; three sisters: Velma Smith of Mason City, Iowa, Leva Johnson of Rockwell City, Iowa, and Violet Felsing of Belle Glade, Florida; cousins, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 18, 2010, at the Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison with the Rev. Alberta Ervin officiating. Music for the service included a vocal recording of “Amazing Grace”. Those serving as pallbearers included Jerry Keele, Jack Shultz, Calvin Grabau-Keele, Chuck Murphy, Larry Larson and Kyler Heckinger. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa with Gerald A. Pallesen serving as Bugler. Interment was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens in Denison. Following the interment, the family invited everyone to join them at Cronks in Denison for fellowship and a luncheon. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecler.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.