Former KZIA president dies of Lou Gehrig’s disease complications

IOWA CITY - Eliot Keller of rural Iowa City, a longtime leader in the Eastern Iowa radio industry and passenger rail advocate, died Monday of complications from Lou Gehrig's disease.

Keller, 62, was the former president, treasurer and general manager of KZIA Inc., which operates KZIA-Z102.9, 102.9 HD-2, KGYM 1600 ESPN and 102.9 HD-3 in Cedar Rapids.

Keller's 42-year radio career included cofounding KRNA in Iowa City, and work in news departments at WOC AM-TV (now KWQC-TV) in Davenport, and at WHBF AM-FM-TV (now WKBF-TV) in Rock Island. He worked at WSUI in Iowa City and at the Daily Iowan while at the University of Iowa.

In 2009, Keller was named to the Iowa Broadcasters Hall of Fame by the Iowa Broadcasters Association. The Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce awarded Keller the Russell Slade Award for a lifetime of service the same year.

A longtime proponent of rail passenger service, Keller was excursion chair of the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers for more than two decades. He also chaired the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce's Legislative Council, and earlier the council's transportation subcommittee.

For nearly three decades, Keller served on the board of the Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society in North Freedom, Wis. He also served on the board of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Iowa state chapter.

Keller is survived by his wife, Sandra, of 39 years,; his daughter, Nicole M. Keller of Indianapolis, and his grandson, Cole M. Bush. Other survivors include his sisters-in-law Sharon Caruso of Phoenix and Sue Murphy of Ely.

No funeral service or memorial celebration are planned in accordance with Keller's wishes. Memorial contributions may be made to the Iowa Impact Endowment Fund of the University of Iowa Foundation in Iowa City; the endowment fund of the Community Foundation of Johnson County in Iowa City or the Midwest High Speed Rail Association, Chicago.