Jesse W. Keen, Sr.

February 19, 1929 - September 15, 2013

OSCEOLA-Jesse W. Keen Sr., 84, passed away Sunday, September 15, 2013 in Elkhart General Hospital. Jesse was born February 19, 1929 in San Pierre, IN to Elmer and Dottie (Hedges) Keen and lived in Osceola for 16 years, coming from Hamlet. On May 18, 1948 in Knox, IN, he was married to Mary Smith, who preceded him in death in 2000. He was also preceded in death by his parents, one great-grandchild, two brothers, Ernie Keen and Bob Newman and two sisters, Edith Konyo and Margaret Heatherington. Survivors include eight children, Deborah Truman of Elkhart, Edward (Jana) Keen of Murfreesboro, TN, Dorothy (Bill) Stacy of Westville, David Keen of Osceola, Barb (Bill) Stafford of Osceola, Jesse Keen Jr. of Elkhart, Paul (Cathy) Keen of Elkhart and Sandra Keen of Arcadia; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren and two sisters, Dora Mitchell of West Virginia and Jeanie Rowe of Knox. He was a former employee of Indiana General in Valparaiso. Funeral services will be Friday, September 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. CST in Rannells Funeral Home, Hamlet Chapel with Pastor Mike Peters officiating. Burial will follow at the Fletcher Cemetery, Hamlet. Friends may call Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST and Friday one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or the American Cancer Society.