Joseph Jr. Keenan

Joe Keenan Jr, of Ogden, Iowa, passed away after a long battle with cancer, on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames at the age of 67.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 21, 2011, at St. John's Catholic Church in Ogden. Father Jim Bruch will officiate. Burial will be at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Ogden. Visitation will be Tuesday, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., at St. John's Catholic Church in Ogden.

Joe was born on November 18, 1944, Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa. Joe lived with his mother at his grand parent's home, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis Clark, Brayton, Iowa after Joe was born (until his father, Joe Sr., returned from the War). At that point they all moved to a farm south of Beaver, Iowa. Joe was one and a half years old by the time he saw his father, who was overseas serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Little Joe, as he was called by family, attended Beaver Consolidated School until it merged with Ogden School system where he participated in track, baseball, and basketball. He graduated from Ogden High School in May of 1963. He helped farm with his father and uncle, Jim Keenan, before going to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for two years where he was studying for a degree in Agriculture.

He married Linda Sue Wilhite, on July 12, 1965, daughter of Donald and Grace Wilhite of Moingona, Iowa. Joe was a member of the Iowa National Guard for 6 years. They had three children: Edward Joseph, Curtis Lee, and Jason Donald. Joe farmed and, at one time, worked for Brook's John Deere Implement Company and at Woodward Mental Hospital. Joe and Linda were divorced in 1987. Joe married Arlene Phipps, in July of 1995, in Boone County, Iowa. They had one child, Matthew James.

Joe's passion in life was raising pigs, helping his boys and grandchildren in sports, 4-H projects, and rodeos. He also loved cooking, baking for others, and raising livestock.

Survivors include four sons: Ed and wife Amy Keenan of Ogden, Curtis Keenan of Ames, Jason and wife Bobbi Jo Keenan of Arizona, and Matthew Keenan at home; seven grandchildren: Natalie, Aubrey, and Ella of Ogden, David and Sam of Ames, and Dakota and Dallas of Arizona; four brothers: Tom and wife Cheri Keenan of Arizona, Jim and wife Chris Keenan of Indianola, Bill and wife Marjorie of California, Tim and wife Raquel of California, and one sister, Mary Jean and husband Robert Pohlner of Ogden, and many nieces and nephews.

Joe is preceded in death by his mother and father.