Charley Mckeever

Charles “Charley” D. McKeever, 69, of Melrose, Iowa, formerly of Le Grand, passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2024 at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines.

Per the wishes of Charley and his family, cremation rites have been accorded under the care of the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. A family-led celebration of life will take place on Saturday, November 16 (note date) from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. at the Green Acres Park and Community Building, 5363 Apache Trail, in Melrose, Iowa. For additional questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Charley was born October 19, 1954 in Newton, Iowa. He graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1973. After meeting the love of his life, Janel “Jan” Weitzell, they were united in marriage on March 9, 1973 in Le Grand, Iowa. Over the years, Charley worked at Lennox, the Times Republican, Marshall Print and Rock Communication, where he retired April of 2020. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Le Grand for over 31 years. In his free time, Charley enjoyed playing guitar, hunting, fishing, wood working, watching NASCAR and cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes. He also loved helping others, and more than anything else, cherished his time spent with his family.

Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 51 years, Jan; his children: Curt (Patti) McKeever of Le Grand and Shelly (Marvin) Kriegel of Grinnell; grandchildren: Drake (Yanna) McKeever of State Center, Lindsey (Cody) Schwarck of Rock Creek, Josh Kriegel of Grinnell and Nick (Ashley) Kriegel of Altoona; four great-grandchildren: Raidly Griffith, Ava and Aiden Schwarck, and Clayson Kriegel; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Charley is preceded in death by his mother and stepfather Donna (Ferrel) and Kenneth Osterhoudt, his father Robert “Bob” McKeever, mother-in-law and father-in-law Wayne and Jackie Weitzell, and granddaughter Kaylee Fleming, his brother Ron McKeever, and three brothers-in-law: Dennis Heeke, Leland Rahjes and Dave Samuelson.