Gertrude Keen

Gods special angel, Gertrude Keen, 98, of Hawkeye Care Center formally Villa Del Sol, joined her family in Heaven on Sunday, October 11, 2015. A celebration of her life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2015, at LeGrand Friends Church with burial at the LeGrand Friends Cemetery following services. A time of fellowship and hot fudge sundaes (Gertrudes favorite dessert) with family and friends will be at the church immediately following burial. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Gertrudes name to Iowa River Hospice or LeGrand Friends Church. For further information or to send a condolence please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call (641) 844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Gertrude and her family. Gertrude was born February 18, 1917, in Iowa, the 8th child to Frank and Josephine (Plavets) Echer, immigrants from Bohemia. She attended many Iowa schools as her father was a railroad telegrapher. On November 4, 1945, she married Dale Keen, a life-time LeGrand resident and farmer living south of LeGrand. Even though she was a city girl, Gertrude quickly adjusted to life as a farmers wife and homemaker. She loved being outside gardening, raising her chickens, and helping Dale with chores, harvest, and remodeling projects. One of her joys was putting up her own vegetables, fruits and chickens for use all winter. Her family particularly loved her chicken and noodles, homemade angel food cake, and caramel rolls. Gertrude loved to be a hostessopening her home to visiting missionaries, visiting college choir members and family. Gertrude also volunteered a lot of her time to her community and her church. She was a member of the LDF band parents, WCTU, Literary and Musical Club, LeGrand Senior Citizens, and was one of the founding members starting the LeGrand Library (being an avid reader herself). As a long-time member of LeGrand Friends Church, she served as Sunday School teacher, Endeavor leader, VBS teacher, Camp Quaker Heights cabin mom, and funeral dinner chairperson. In 1991, Gertrude and Dale moved to the LeGrand Leisure Homes, where she helped Dale maintain the apartment complex for several years. In 2007, Gertrude moved to Villa Del Sol where she was loved for her smiles and giggles. Gertrudes greatest joy was her family. She attended nearly all of her children and grandchildrens sports events, musical concerts, plays, dance recitals, and provided her famous homemade angel food cake and hand cranked ice cream for every birthday. Gertrude leaves a legacy of love for daughter, Donna Packer of Marshalltown, IA; granddaughter, Bethany (Matt) Charlsen of Minneapolis, MN; Peggy Keen (daughter-in-law), of Hobart, IN; granddaughter Jenny Keen, children Owen, Jessica, and Mitchell, of Ontario, Canada; grandsons Jeff (Colleen) Keen, children Ravena, Kristen, Julia, and Sam of Bad Axe, MI; Scott Keen, children Bryce and Kiffany, of Indianapolis, IN; Marc (Michelle) Keen, sons TJ and Brett of Hobart, IN; Nick (Missy) Keen, children Brandon, Caleb, and Abbey, Mt. Vernon, IA. In heaven she was greeted by husband Dale, son Richard, son-in-law Dave Packer, her parents and 7 brothers and sisters- Johnny, Henry, Baby Edward, Baby Marie, Helen, Marie and Ruby.