Keiper, Raymond 'Ray'

Raymond “Ray” Keiper, 93, died Sunday, March 11, 2012, at Rock Ridge Residential Care Center in Shellsburg following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, 2012, at St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Atkins with Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Interment will be held at St. Stephen's Cemetery near Atkins. Visitation will be held at the church in Atkins from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13. Memorials may be directed to St. Stephen's Lutheran Church or to the family.

Raymond Conrad William Keiper was born February 13, 1919, on the family farm near Atkins to Henry and Katherine (Rinderknecht) Keiper. He received his elementary education at St. Stephen's Lutheran School and graduated from Atkins High School in 1937.

On May 24, 1941, he was united in marriage to Betty Lensch at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids.

Ray was a lifelong farmer and also enjoyed selling seed for DeKalb and McCubbin Seed Companies. A lifelong member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church he served his congregation in many ways throughout his life. He was blessed to have special friends who loved playing pinochle as much as he did and they came often to the care facility in Shellsburg to play cards with him.

He is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Betty, who was also his best friend and caregiver during these past years; his children, June Reed of Urbandale, Jim (Wendy) Keiper of Palo, Nancy (Edward K.) Wilhelmi of Atkins, and Donald (Barbra) Keiper of Palo; 11 grandchildren, Carla (Todd) Chambers, Krista (Dwight) Oehlerich, Scott (Heidi) Keiper, Julie (Corey) Ruehle, Lori (Jerry) Farmer, Deb (Marty) Gorkow, Kathy (Daniel) Schneiderman, Tami (Nathan) Junge, Sara Jane Keiper and friend, Brian Bigelow, Melissa Darling and fiance Brian Moyer, and Ben Darling; 21 great-grandchildren; brother, Irvin (Dolores) Keiper; and sister, Esto Jennings.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Fred “Fritz” Keiper; sister, Milda Heitshusen; and son-in-law, Roger H. Reed.

The family thanks the staff at Rock Ridge Care Center and Hospice Compassus for the wonderful care Ray received.

Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left at .

Published March 13, 2012 in The Gazette