In loving memory of

Wesley W. "Wes" Keil
December 16, 1923 - April 28, 2010

Wesley W. "Wes" Keil, 86, of Maquoketa, Iowa, died on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, at Westwing Place in DeWitt, Iowa.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, May 1, 2010, from the Carson & Son Funeral And Cremation Services in Maquoketa, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P.M. on Friday, April 30, 2010, from the Carson & Son Funeral And Cremation Services in Maquoketa, Iowa. Burial will be at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Maquoketa, Iowa, where military rites will be accorded.

Wesley W. "Wes" Keil was born on December 16, 1923 in Bellevue, Iowa, to Roy J. Keil and Alma (Heckelsmiller) Keil. He was raised in Bellevue and became a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry receiving an honorable discharge. He married Willaura "Billie" Williams on April 21, 1946 in Maquoketa, Iowa.

Wes worked in the Oil Industry for over 40 years. He owned and operated Keil Oil Company from 1955 until retiring and selling the business in 1977 to the Andrew COOP.

Wes was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Maquoketa and was a former member of the Maquoketa Optimist Club and the Maquoketa Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Maquoketa VFW Post #3633 O'Connor-Regenwether, Timber City American Legion Post #75, Eastern Iowa Chapter of the Ex-POW's and was a lifetime member of the 84th Infantry Division.

Wes was an avid bowler and had been a longtime member of a bowling league. He liked baseball, especially following the Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. He also enjoyed walking, and spending time with his children and grandchildren and going to their games.

Wes is survived by his wife, Billie Keil of Maquoketa, IA; children, Gary (Vickie) Keil of Davenport, IA, Kevin (Janet) Keil of DeWitt, IA and Brent (Kim) Keil of Camanche, IA; 7 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ellen Felderman of Clinton, IA; sisters-in-law, Catherine Keil of Marion, IA, Mila Keil of Maquoketa, IA, Laurel Williams of Preston, IA and June (Virgil) Roeder of Tucson, AZ; and a brother-in-law, Allen (Darlene) Cook of Maquoketa, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents and 4 brothers, Ellis, Wallace, Lorin and Leon.

A Wesley W. "Wes" Keil memorial fund has been established.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.CarsonAndSon.com.

Tributes

Dick & LeAnn McCallister wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Keil family at this time of loss. The world has lost a really terrific person. He was a kind and loving person who loved his family and life itself. He will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched over his lifetime. Bye Wes, we will miss you!"

Robert E. Christensen wrote on May 9, 2010:

"I shall miss Wes as he will always be my military hero for serving his country and living in the German prison camp. May he rest in peace."

Buddy & Myrna Olson wrote on May 9, 2010:

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Mark Roeder wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Wes was a gentle giant man, who was caring, and personable, and a pleasure to be around. He seemed to know everyone in Maquoketa. When I was a kid his Schmidt & Keil Oil Co. pickup was stolen. We fortuitously found it for him, parked on a street in Dubuque. What are the chances of that? I respected him for his heroism and what he must have endured serving our country in WWII and being held in and surviving a Nazi prison camp. He never said a thing about it, but his license plate was indicative of the pride he must have felt for his country, and ultimately for his role in service to our country. It was a life well-lived. "

Tom and Lynette Keil-Veit wrote on May 9, 2010:

"My mom called us last night to tell us about Wes\'s passing. Our love goes out to the entire family. What a sweet man that will be very missed. xoxo"

Chuck and Erin Wiebenga wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Brent and family- We just wanted to let you know how sorry we are to hear of Wes\'s passing. Please know that we are thinking about and praying for you during this difficult time. Take care and God Bless."

Reggie and Traci Keil wrote on May 9, 2010:

" I will miss u every day. The last few months to me were and will be very memorable for the rest of my time here. I will never forget the stories you told me about the P.O.W camps and how the Germans found you, and the doctors saved your life.You were a hero in my eyes and I have always looked up to you. I will love and miss you forever"

Michael. A, Keil wrote on May 9, 2010:

"My great grandpa Wes was my favorite one I loved him with all my heart. He was kind and gentle and cool. He is my hero I loved his war stories. He is the best, awesome, and fun. I visited him in retierment home 3 times and enjoyed being there before he past away. My whole point is that I love him and cared about him and i miss him."

Connie Bonney wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Going to miss Wes, in fact i missed him the day he tranfered out of our hospital. He was alway a gentleman in everyway...Never once did i hear him say anything bad about our cooking. Wes was alway and i mean alway polite and caring...He had the most wonderful smile..I am glad to have met him and his wonderful wife and call them my friends...I know that God and Wes are probably sitting up there now talking about old war stories and all the love he had for his wife and kids...Rest in peace now Wes, no more pain and we all are sure going to miss you."

Kelly Hathcock And Family wrote on May 9, 2010:

"To all the family: My grandfather will be deeply missed and remembered for all he did for Everyone. He was a gentleman to all he knew. His tribute to the whole will never be forgotten in all the things he has done. I love you grandpa! You will be missed, I will cherish all the memories we have had."

Paul Fredenburg wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Thank you Mr. Keil for your service to our country."

sharoon & darrel rettig wrote on May 9, 2010:

"We have not lived in Maquoketa for a few years. When I would walk I always enjoyed seeing the two of you sitting in chairs in front of your garage and ususally exchanging a few happy thoughts of the nice day. Those are memories that will keep Wes close. With our deepest sympathy Sharon & Darrel"

Diane Temple-Hayes wrote on May 9, 2010:

"We were so sorry to hear that Wes passed away. When my step-dad, Bob Lyons was in Skilled Nursing at the hospital he enjoyed the company of Wes. They enjoyed talking about the days when their boys were in High School sports. We just wanted your family to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers."

Diane Temple-Hayes wrote on May 9, 2010:

"We were so sorry to hear that Wes passed away. When my step-dad, Bob Lyons was in Skilled Nursing at the hospital he enjoyed the company of Wes. They enjoyed talking about the days when their boys were in High School sports. We just wanted your family to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers."

June & Virgil Roeder wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Billie, We offer our sympathy to you & your boys. It has been a few years of suffering for Wes & you too. Sorry I did not get there for you and know you expected me too. We certainly have been thinking of you and will miss Wes. I will be spending time with you in June & July so am looking forward to that. June"

Cathie Jebsen wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Wes had a great heart.When my father passed away, I went to visit him and we said nothing, just cried. He just kept rubbing my hands. His tenderness was overwhelming to me. What a sweet, sweet man. You were all blessed to have him in your lives. I know I was blessed to have known him...."

Patricia Krantz wrote on May 9, 2010:

" To Wes\'s family, you have my deepest sympathy. He was a fine man, and I first knew him when he used to deliver fuel oil to us way back when. His suffering is over now. May he rest in peace. "

John & Renee\' Belander wrote on May 9, 2010:

"I have the pleasure in knowing Wes & Billie. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your family. Wes will always be remembered in our hearts. God bless you all."

Gayle Kleinsmith Hargrafen wrote on May 9, 2010:

"Dear Gary and all the Keil family,I was so sorry to hear about your dad,he was a great guy.I lost my dad ten years ago and I still miss him so much.You and your whole family are in my thoughts and prayers.Gayle"

Chris Ledding wrote on May 9, 2010:

"It was with great sadness that I learned that Wes had passed away. He was a true gentleman, never a cross word. Being a military veteran myself, we would exchange stories and he\'d laugh when I\'d say that \"us old vets have to stick together\". I will be keeping you all in my prayers. Rest in peace, Wes, you\'ll be missed."

Abby wrote on May 9, 2010:

" I was a CNA when Wes was in the Skilled Unit at the Maquoketa hospital. I remember one spring, a robin had built its nest for her baby birds just outside his window. He would say, \"It\'s hard to believe they can survive out there like that.\" He was a reflective person; an undemanding patient, and not on his call light excessively. I\'ll think of Wes often."

Lori Evilsizer wrote on May 9, 2010:

"I\'ve been truly blessed to have Wes and Billie Keil for my Uncle and Aunt. Growing up, our families were close, and along with the Cooks and Roeders we always looked forward to being together onThanksgiving, Christmas Day, summer picnics and birthday suppers. Uncle Wes was one of the kindest people I\'ve ever met. He lived his life like he believed it-- working hard, caring for his family, games and sports were played fair and he treated everyone with respect. We will all miss him and think of him often. Wouldn\'t the world be a better place if more people were like Wes Keil? My condolences to Aunt Billie, and cousins, Gary,Kevin and Brent."