Cornelius Theodore Keil was the sixth and last son of William and Louisa Keil born September 23, 1895 on a 160 acre farm in Moniteau County, Missouri. He was almost sixteen when his father died in 1911 and he left home a couple years later to work as a hired hand on the farms of various neighbors. He eventually traveled north to join his brother Louis G. Keil on his wheat ranch near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
He was living there when he convinced his Prairie Home sweetheart Lutetia Naomi Smith to join him in Canada. They were married March 10th, 1918 in Moose Jaw. They returned to Missouri for the birth of their first and only child, Ralph Henry on August 30, 1921. They did not stay long in Missouri but also did not return to Canada. Instead they came to Tacoma where his brother John was already living. This was in 1922.
Neal worked for the North Pacific Railroad along with his brother John. He and his wife built a home a 5423 South Prospect Street and they lived there until early 1940. He was now working for the Puget Sound Power & Light Company since about 1936. Then in 1940 he was transferred to the P.S.P.L. substation at Shine, Washington. He and Lutetia continued living there until his retirement in 1960.
In 1940 Ralph joined the Navy and was first stationed on the Arizona and then on the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. He died on the Oklahoma in the attack and his body was never identified or returned home. Neal and Tish never recovered from the loss of their only child. Since his body was not recovered they always felt that he had to be alive somewhere.
After Neal's retirement in 1960 they moved back to Tacoma and resided at 3856 Tacoma Avenue South until their deaths. Neal died August 17, 1964 and Tish died July 16, 1979.
~ By Pauline M. Miller
Cornelius Theodore Keil was the sixth and last son of William and Louisa Keil born September 23, 1895 on a 160 acre farm in Moniteau County, Missouri. He was almost sixteen when his father died in 1911 and he left home a couple years later to work as a hired hand on the farms of various neighbors. He eventually traveled north to join his brother Louis G. Keil on his wheat ranch near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
He was living there when he convinced his Prairie Home sweetheart Lutetia Naomi Smith to join him in Canada. They were married March 10th, 1918 in Moose Jaw. They returned to Missouri for the birth of their first and only child, Ralph Henry on August 30, 1921. They did not stay long in Missouri but also did not return to Canada. Instead they came to Tacoma where his brother John was already living. This was in 1922.
Neal worked for the North Pacific Railroad along with his brother John. He and his wife built a home a 5423 South Prospect Street and they lived there until early 1940. He was now working for the Puget Sound Power & Light Company since about 1936. Then in 1940 he was transferred to the P.S.P.L. substation at Shine, Washington. He and Lutetia continued living there until his retirement in 1960.
In 1940 Ralph joined the Navy and was first stationed on the Arizona and then on the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked on December 7, 1941. He died on the Oklahoma in the attack and his body was never identified or returned home. Neal and Tish never recovered from the loss of their only child. Since his body was not recovered they always felt that he had to be alive somewhere.
After Neal's retirement in 1960 they moved back to Tacoma and resided at 3856 Tacoma Avenue South until their deaths. Neal died August 17, 1964 and Tish died July 16, 1979.
~ By Pauline M. Miller
Family Members
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John Frederick Keil
1876–1923
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Charles Edward "Ed" Keil
1878–1955
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Emma Mathilda Keil Broeder
1881–1945
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Clara M Keil Schilb
1882–1946
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Louis George Keil
1884–1962
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Frank Phillip Keil
1887–1937
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Anna Caroline "Maud" Keil Baer
1889–1984
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Henry William Keil
1891–1898
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Louise M "Lula" Keil Geiger
1893–1985
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Wilhelmina Elizabeth "Minnie" Keil Strickfaden
1896–1959
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Celeste A "Leste" Keil Strickfaden
1899–1987
