Services
Obituary
Maurice Edward Keil was born February 16, 1909, in Titonka, Iowa, the son of John E. and Fannie (Hobbs) Keil.
He attended school in Titonka, and graduated as class valedictorian from Titonka High School in 1925. Maurice also attended Waldorf College in Forest City.
After completing his education, he worked as a beekeeper in Iowa and Texas.
Maurice was married to Lilah Kaphengst on April 19, 1941, in Moberly, Missouri. They had four children, twin sons, Bruce and Brent, daughter Pamela, and son Scott.
Maurice and Lilah lived in Titonka until moving to the Ledyard, Iowa, area in 1955, where they farmed and Lilah was a school teacher. Lilah died in January of 1974.
Maurice retired from day to day farming in 1974, but continued to keep an active interest in the business by renting his farm on a crop-share basis. He also continued to keep bees during the years he farmed and into retirement, and did cabinet work and carpentry for many people in the Ledyard area during the years he lived there.
Maurice was married to June Sparks on October 23, 1976, in Titonka. They lived on Maurice's farm near Ladyard until 1987, when they moved to June's hometown of Britt.
Maurice was a member of the Britt United Methodist Church, and a former member of the Bethany Evangelical and Reformed Church of Ledyard and the United Methodist Church in Ledyard. He was an elder and served on the consistory committee at Bethany E & R Church. He enjoyed attending adult Sunday school at the Britt United Methodist Church. He was greatly comforted in his last days by the presence of Jesus in his life.
He was a member of the Sioux Honey Association Board of Directors, and served several terms on the Ledyard Community School District Board of Education.
Maurice enjoyed woodworking throughout his life, and was always willing to work on special projects for anyone who asked. He and June also enjoyed traveling throughout the U.S. during their retirement years together. Maurice was an avid reader as well. He spent much time visiting with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lilah; and two sisters, Beatrice Callies and Florence Reaser.
Maurice is survived by his wife, June, of Britt; his four children, Bruce and his wife, Carol of Lakeville, MN; Brent and his wife, Carol, of Naperville, IL; Pamela and her husband, Larry DeBoer, of Northfield, MN; Scott and his fiancee, Sue, of Many, IA; and a step-son, Jim Sparks and his wife, Bonnie, of Davenport, IA. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Michael Kiel and Bryan Keil, both of Naperville, IL; Kevin Keil and his wife, Tara, of Chanhassen, MN; Kris Keil of Lakeville, MN; Trent DeBoer and his wife, Betsy, of Fayetteville, AK; and Chad DeBoer of Orlando, FL; two step-grandchildren, Brandi Sparks and Josh Sparks, both of Davenport, IA; a step-sister, Carolyn Dawson, of Britt; a niece, Jackie Raymond and her husband, Fritz, of Ely, MN; a nephew, Doyle Reaser and his wife, Toni of Ben Lomond, CA; and many other relatives and a host of friends.