Services
Obituary
Hazel "Irene" Keeling, 99, of Riceville and formerly of Clarion, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Riceville Family Care and Therapy Center.
Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to service at the funeral home.
One of Irene’s favorite wishes was to live to be 100 years old; unfortunately, she missed that goal by 83 days when she peacefully left this world to meet up with her husband, Cliff, on September 29, 2025. Irene wished to be remembered as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother because she enjoyed her family.
Hazel Irene Thurman was born on December 21, 1925 to Joel and Gladys “Ruth” Thurman in Eagle Grove. She was the eldest of 10 children, with 3 sisters and 6 brothers. She grew up in the Eagle Grove and Clarion area.
Irene married Clifford Keeling on November 20, 1945. They had five children of whom she was very proud. Irene was a housewife for most of her life; except for 20 years that she worked in several nursing homes as a cook.
Irene and Cliff lived in the Staples, Minnesota area for many years before moving to Mt. Home, Arkansas. They returned to Iowa in 1999 to be closer to their children. Irene enjoyed traveling, doing word puzzles, playing cards, and gardening.
Irene is survived by her brothers Dale, Jack, and Bob; sister Joan; sisters-in-law Helen Thurman and Kathy Thurman; her son Joseph (Sue) Keeling of Riceville, Marsha (William) Owen of Staples, Minnesota, Nancy (Lenny Krause) Shinabarger of Medford, Minnesota; and Sally (Rod) Roe of West Fargo, North Dakota; son-in-law Sherman (Shirl) Knox of Middleton, Missouri; 13 grandchildren; and several great and great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Cliff; daughter Rosemary; grandson Sherman Knox; granddaughter Kelly Taylor; two-great-grandchildren; and several siblings and their spouses.