Irvin Keiper

IRVIN KEIPER

Atkins

Irvin G. "Irv" Keiper, 100, died peacefully Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins, with Pastor Doug Woltemath officiating. Interment will be held at St. Stephen's Cemetery, near Atkins, with graveside military rites conducted by the Adolph H. Schueler American Legion Post No. 217. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of

arrangements.

Irv was born Oct. 6, 1913, to Henry and Katharina (Rinderknecht) Keiper, on the family farm near Atkins. He graduated from Atkins High School and then operated a gas station in Atkins for a few years. Through that job he met and later married Dolores Melberg on June 20, 1938. He worked as an electrician, a carpenter and later at Collins Radio. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served in World War II. He served with the Joint Assault Signal Corps for three years in the Pacific theater, participating in three invasions, Leyte, Luzon and Okinawa. He arrived home on Christmas Eve 1945.

After arriving home from the war, Irv decided to go into dairy farming on the family farm. During these years, Douglas and Janice were born. Irv retired from farming in 1984 and built a new house in Atkins. He kept busy for a few years with custom combining before deciding to thoroughly enjoy retirement. He played golf, cards, bowled and went

on trips both in the United States and abroad with

family and friends.

Irv enjoyed reading, singing in the church choir and serving as an elder. He was community minded and served on the Atkins Telephone board for 21 years. He was a 66-year member of the Atkins American Legion Post, served the Atkins Town Council and on the Senior Housing Unit. He supported the new Atkins Library and Civic Center.

He loved his family. He was always interested in keeping up with the activities of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Irv, with his ready smile, will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife of 76 years, Dolores; his daughter, Janice (Karl) Nelson of Shell Rock; his daughter-in-law, Bonnie Keiper of Atkins; five grandchildren, Matthew Keiper of Fairfax, Va., Melanie Keiper of Des Moines, Mark (Kate) Keiper of Woodbury, Minn., Joel (Barbara) Nelson of Clive and Stephanie (Tom) Charpentier of Rosemount, Minn.; and nine great-grandchildren, Anna and Sara Nelson, Kaitlin and Lydia Keiper, Sophia, Andrew, and Alexander Charpentier, and Jack and Lara Keiper.

He is also survived by his sister, Esto Jennings; sister-in-law, Betty Keiper; and many nieces and

nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Douglas; his sister, Milda Heitshusen; and his brothers, Fred and Ray.

Memorials may be given to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church, the Atkins Library or the memorial of the

donor's choice.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneral

homes.com.