Where Caring Is A Family Tradition
Where Caring Is A Family Tradition
Dr. William "Doc" F. Keller
Town of Vinland, Wisconsin
Dr. William "Doc" F. Keller, age 78, of the Town of Vinland, formerly of Kaukauna, died Thursday, September 23, 2010, at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah. He was born December 1, 1931, in Appleton to the late William G. and Helen (Blick) Keller. Bill was a 1949 graduate of St. Mary's High School in Menasha. From 1951 until 1955, he served his country in the U.S. Navy. On June 25, 1955, Bill married the love of his life, Janet Voissem at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Menasha. Doc graduated from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee, and was an optometrist in Kaukauna for 40 years. After retiring from his optometry practice, Bill went to work part-time for his son Jim's business, JAK Enterprises, assembling cabinets until 2009. He was a long time member of St. Aloysius Parish in Kaukauna, where he was a past president of the parish council, and sang in the church choir. Doc was a lifetime member and past president of the MacDowell Male Chorus in Appleton, was a past president and member of the Kaukauna Lions Club, and was a long-time member of the Fox Valley Golf Course. His children were in awe of his many talents and his great wealth of knowledge. Bill was a talented tailor, making his own suits, his daughter Marie's wedding dress, and reupholstering furniture. He was an avid golfer who made his own golf clubs. He also enjoyed building radio-controlled airplanes, fishing, bird hunting, crossword puzzles, and was a long-time Packer fan. Doc gave Jan a break on Sundays to cook the family lunch and was known for making homemade spaetzles. Bill was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be sadly missed and has left his family and friends with many wonderful memories.
Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years, Janet; his children and their families: son, Stephen (Anne), granddaughter, Stephannie Keller, great-granddaughter Karma Schulze, grandson, Ben Keller; daughter, Lora Keller (Michael DeWan), grandson, Will Keller DeWan; daughter, Marie (Duane) Filtz, grandchildren, Evan and Emma Filtz; son, Mike (Sandy), step-grandson, Craig Coenen; son, Jim (Connie), grandchildren, Grace and Andrew Keller. Also surviving are one brother, Thomas (Gail) Keller; three sisters, Sr. Mary Stephen Keller, Dorothy Bills, Kathy (John) Gullixson; brother-in-law, Marve (Jayne) Voissem; sisters-in-law, Carol (James) Ferron, Ellen (Geff) Kingston; and nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, Bill was also preceded in death by one sister, Joan; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Vienette Voissem.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, 210 Pleasant Dr., Winneconne, with Fr. Jason Blahnik and Sr. Pam Biehl officiating. Cremation will follow and inurnment will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Appleton. A Visitation for family and friends will be on Wednesday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the Mass.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Doc's name.
Mueller Funeral Home
904 E. Main St. P.O. Box 250
Winneconne, WI 54986
(920) 582-4242
Please submit online condolences to
www.muellerfuneralhomeinc.com
Dannie & Nancy Angell wrote on September 28, 2010
Dan and I were sorry to hear of your loss of Bill. He was a truly wonderful person to all and now God will have His own seamstress. We will keep you all in our prayers. Please know that you are missed by the St. Al's people.Dan & Nancy Angell
Rev. Harvey & Nancy Kandler wrote on September 27, 2010
We thank God for the life of Doc Keller, for his creative abilities, for his community service and loyalty, for the use of his talents to make Kaukauna and the world a better place in which to live. But even beyond this, we thank God for the faith that he had in our Lord, for his ecumenical spirit, for that deep voice of singing that persisted and spoke of the good tidings in the faith. He blossomed into being God's ambassador of goodness so that the life of Jesus became real through him, and to those who were a part of his life and crossed his paths. Now Jesus weeps for him as he wept for Lazarus, and He weeps with you as family and says "Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted." And the comfort that He provides is not only salve for our hearts, but that the reality of the faith is resurrection, and those who trust Him shall all be a part of the communion of saints where we all break bread with the One who first broke it. As it says in John 13, "And Jesus loved them to the end" and as it says here, Jesus loved Doc to the end.
We send our sincere sympathy and love.
The Rev. Harvey & Nancy Kandler (retired)
Kaukauna, WI
Ron & Sue Ernst wrote on September 27, 2010
Jan & Mike: We are saddened to read of Bill's death. The three of you are "classic" MacDowell friends. We will miss Bill and his great smile!
Peace!
Marilyn Blick Kopetsky wrote on September 27, 2010
My deepest sympathy to Jan and all of the Keller family for the loss of wonderful Bill. I will remember him as a charming man. A great conversationalist who made his younger cousin feel special. Wish I could attend, but work keeps me here. Love, Marilyn
Jackie Krug Hill wrote on September 26, 2010
My sincere condolences to all of Bill's family, especially my childhood friends Kathy and Dorothy, and my babysitter, Sr. Mary Stephen.
Duane & Barb Diedrich wrote on September 26, 2010
Sorry for your lost. We will always remember Dr. Keller, he was a great guy
Barbara Blick Pope wrote on September 26, 2010
Jan and all, I'm so sorry to learn of Bill's death. Please know that he'll be in my prayers. He was a wonderful man and is receiving his reward for a life well-lived. His obituary was beautifully written and described the whole man, including his love for his family.
Fondly,
Barbara Blick Pope