Bernard C. Keil
March 14, 1933 - April 30, 2018

Bernard C. Keil, 85, of Allen, NE passed away on Monday, April 30, 2018 at his home with his family.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 P.M. on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at First Lutheran Church in Allen, NE with Rev. Chris Hjelmstad officiating. Burial will be in Eastview Cemetery in rural Allen. Visitation with the family present will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home in Ponca, NE.

Bernard was born March 14, 1933 in rural Allen, the son of Augustus Paul and Etta Viola (Carr) Keil. He attended grades 1 through 8 at Sand Hills School in rural Allen, and graduated from Allen Consolidated Schools in 1950. He worked at many different jobs, including construction, heavy equipment, and served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955 as a Radar Technician. He played football on the Army team, and was also involved in the Golden Gloves boxing in Sioux City, IA. Bernard married Faith A. Kingston on December 31, 1957 and they were blessed with three children.

Bernard had many talents and always did his own mechanics, plumbing and building. He was Field Supervisor for Isanti Contractors from 1980 to 1989, working on the Indian housing in mid western states. He worked for Lite-Form when it was a fledgling company and later worked for L & L Builders in Sioux City, supervising commercial building.

He had many outdoor hobbies including camping, fishing and hunting. He retired in 2007 and helped friends and neighbors with building projects.

Bernard was actively involved with the American Legion Floyd Gleason Post #131 at Allen for 62 years. He was a member of First Lutheran Church and involved in the upkeep of the church building as long as he was able. He was a member of the Allen-Waterbury Fire Dept. for many years.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Faith Keil of Allen; children, Nick (Hazel) Keil of Beaver Crossing, NE, Juli Hanika of Laurel, NE and LeEtta (Mark) Nelson of Lincoln, NE; 8 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Augustus "Gus" and Etta Keil; and siblings, Paul (Maxine) Keil, Horace (Zola) Keil, Earl (Arlene) Keil, Paul (Betty) Tynan, Helen (George) Bouvoin and Bill (Joyce) Keil.

Tributes