Esther Mahle Keen

Esther (Mrs. Beryl) Mahle Keen, 91, of LeGrand, joined her Savior and Lord early Thursday morning, July 23rd, at the MMSC. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with Pastor Alan Mullikin of the LeGrand Friends Church officiating. She will be laid to rest in the LeGrand Friends Cemetery. Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service. Memorials may be directed in her memory to the Grinnell Regional Hospice at 210 4th Avenue, Grinnell, Iowa, 50112 or the Salvation Army in Marshalltown. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph 641-844-1234. Born on August 15th, 1917, in LeGrand at the family home, she was the daughter of and one of seven children born to Theodore and Margaret Mahle. She received her education in the area of her birth. Esther loved music especially Christian. She was a self-taught organist and played for the LeGrand Friends Church for many years and later enjoyed her organ at her home. She and Beryl made over 6000 quilts for the MMSC, Storks Nest and social agencies for babies and children. On December 3rd, 1943, she was united in marriage to Beryl Keen at the LeGrand Friends Church while he was on leave from WWII. They farmed on the family farm side-by-side west of LeGrand for many years and moved into a remodeled family home in LeGrand in 1981. Mrs. Keen took care of the books for the farm and prior to marriage, was transcriptionist for elder Dr. Keyser in Marshalltown and his successors. Esther enjoyed and treasured her family that includes Beryl, her loving husband of 65 years, sons: Michael (Shirley) Keen of Marshalltown, Steven (Mary) Keen of LeGrand, five grandchildren: Kevin (Melissa) Keen of LeGrand, Kami (Chip) Uhde of Marshalltown, Greg (Stephanie) Keen of Altoona, Erin (Carl) Jensen of Des Moines and Jeff Keen of Cedar Rapids; four great-grandchildren- Jesse and Nolan Keen and Kaci and Chesni Uhde of Marshalltown. Also surviving is her only sister Lillian Long of Newton as well as several nieces and nephews. In eternal life, she has rejoined her parents, siblings- Maxine Mabel, Anne Marie, Carl, Hazel, and Donald. Esther was a dedicated born again Christian. Her statement to all who attend the service and read this would be to get things right with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.