Vernon “Vern” P. Keller passed away March 8, 2021 at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital in Huntley, IL.
Vernon was born in Elgin on June 15, 1935 to Vernon P. Keller, Sr. and Thelma Gene (nee Sportsman).
Vernon had a competitive personality; he enjoyed playing all sorts of games, especially card night, with his parents and siblings. While attending Elgin High School, Vernon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he completed his education and served as an aircraft mechanic in the Korean War.
Vernon enjoyed fishing, exercising, racquetball, and golf. He was also a faithful member of St. Thomas of the Apostle Catholic Church in Crystal Lake, IL.
Vern worked in Public Service for 39 years with the cities of Bensenville and Cary. Upon his retirement, after 29 years of service, the Village of Cary presented him with the key to the city in appreciation.
Vern was a devout catholic who loved Jesus. His children and family meant the world to him. He had a larger than life personality and a smile to match. He was generous to all who knew him and to the many charities that he supported. He had a big heart, especially for children and animals.
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Thelma; first wife, Carolyn S. Willingham (nee Martin) and second wife, Joyce L. Keller (nee Kenney); brother, David Keller; and son, Vincent Keller.
He is survived by daughter Julia (Richard) Sommer; sons, Gary Keller and Charles Keller, grandchildren; Gary Sommer, Tiffany (Jon) Hadley, Paige Keller, Chase Riley, Thomas and Ashley; great grandchildren, Amelia and Abigail Hadley and four sisters, Barbara Capri, Kathleen Mulroney, Diane (Dean) Knight and Kristy (Paul) Engen plus several cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to O’Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, 364 Division Street in Elgin. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, March 12 from 9:00 am until time of service at 11:00. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 1001 E. Villa Street in Elgin.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in his name to St. Jude Children's Research or the National Appeal - Diocese of Rockford.
O’Connor-Leetz Funeral Home shall be compliant with the CDC recommendations on social distancing and the merits of health and safety for all its employees, patrons, and visitors of the church. Masks are required and entry to the visitation will be limited to fifty persons at a time. Once inside, we kindly ask you to engage only in brief salutation to the immediate family and kindly exit, thus, allowing others to enter. Vernon “Vern” P. Keller passed away March 8, 2021 at Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital in Huntley, IL.
Vernon was born in Elgin on June 15, 1935 to Vernon P. Keller, Sr. and Thelma Gene (nee Sportsman).
Vernon had a competitive personality; he enjoyed playing all sorts of games, especially card night, with his parents and siblings. While attending Elgin High School, Vernon enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he completed his education and served as an aircraft mechanic in the Korean War.
Vernon enjoyed fishing, exercising, racquetball, and golf. He was also a faithful member of St. Thomas of the Apostle Catholic Church in Crystal Lake, IL.
Vern worked in Public Service for 39 years with the cities of Bensenville and Cary. Upon his retirement, after 29 years of service, the Village of Cary presented him with the key to the city in appreciation.
Vern was a devout catholic who loved Jesus. His children and family meant the world to him. He had a larger than life personality and a smile to match. He was generous to all who knew him and to the many charities that he supported. He had a big heart, especially for children and animals.
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Thelma; first wife, Carolyn S. Willingham (nee Martin) and second wife, Joyce L. Keller (nee Kenney); brother, David Keller; and son, Vincent Keller.
He is survived by daughter Julia (Richard) Sommer; sons, Gary Keller and Charles Keller, grandchildren; Gary Sommer, Tiffany (Jon) Hadley, Paige Keller, Chase Riley, Thomas and Ashley; great grandchildren, Amelia and Abigail Hadley and four sisters, Barbara Capri, Kathleen Mulroney, Diane (Dean) Knight and Kristy (Paul) Engen plus several cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to O’Connor-Leetz Funeral Home, 364 Division Street in Elgin. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, March 12 from 9:00 am until time of service at 11:00. Interment will take place immediately following the service at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 1001 E. Villa Street in Elgin.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made in his name to St. Jude Children's Research or the National Appeal - Diocese of Rockford.
O’Connor-Leetz Funeral Home shall be compliant with the CDC recommendations on social distancing and the merits of health and safety for all its employees, patrons, and visitors of the church. Masks are required and entry to the visitation will be limited to fifty persons at a time. Once inside, we kindly ask you to engage only in brief salutation to the immediate family and kindly exit, thus, allowing others to enter.
I am going to miss uncle Vern a lot! I enjoyed staying with him and Til when I was working in the area close to their home. The conversations we had and the things he said I will always remember. He did love Jesus and put his faith and trust in Him. I look forward to seeing him again in glory! He also loved his family tremendously. My deepest regret is that work and the busyness of life kept me from spending more time with my Uncle Vern !!! I loved him as I saw the similarities of my dad in him, and my grandparents too. He makes me proud to be a KELLER……
It was about a month ago when my brother-in -law, Bob Simonini phoned to tell me that he had a nice conversation with “Junior”. I asked for his phone number and called him the next day. It was so good to talk with my cousin…We shared many family memories and went on for nearly an hour. Thank God I made that call. I feel blessed.
I will miss our conversations about sports and politics . I loved his honestly and generosity.
There is a hole left in my heart but I know he is in heaven with Momma and Dad playing cards and laughing that Vern laugh.
God Bless our sweet junior .
Barbara
I feel so bad to see my cousin Junior (Vern) pass. I feel so fortunate to be cousin to the entire fun-loving Keller clan and Junior was the King. He was a handsome man full of mischief and humor. You could not help but laugh when around him. With all of that personality within him, he was still another very hard working man; a sincere man striving to help his family. His love of family and people was deep. His integrity was to be admired . His generosity, most often unknown, exampled his concern, willingness, and love of others with understanding with empathy. The sadness of the hole left in my heart,of my fun-loving sincere cousin will not be filled. but always remembered.
Barbara Capri beloved sister
He is my little brother with a big heart . I remember him with us in New York working for my husband Frank , we both loved him dearly . His charisma is one that
cannot be matched and his witt was engaging .
I will miss our conversations about sports and politics . I loved his honestly and generosity.
There is a whole left in my heart but I know he is in heaven with Momma and Dad playing cards and laughing that Vern laugh.
God Bless our sweet junior .
Barbara Capri beloved sister
He is my little brother with a big heart . I remember him with us in New York working for my husband Frank , we both loved him dearly . His charisma is one that
cannot be matched and his witt was engaging .
I will miss our conversations about sports and politics . I loved his honestly and generosity.
There is a hole left in my heart but I know he is in heaven with Momma and Dad playing cards and laughing that Vern laugh.
God Bless our sweet junior .