Wesley John "Lee" Keller, 96, of Sioux City, formerly of rural Kingsley, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Omaha. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Kingsley, with the Rev. Brad Pelzel officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery, with military rites provided by the American Legion Nash Post 140 of Kingsley. Wesley John "Lee" was born on July 12, 1919, in rural Plymouth County, Iowa, the son of John Everett and Anna Josephine (Franzen) Keller. He was the third child in a family of five children. Lee graduated from the eighth grade at a country school near Kingsley, and went into farming until being inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942. He served under General Joseph Stillwell with the 10th Mountain Division, 13th Mountain Medical Battalion, Co. D. until being honorably discharged at the end of the war with the rank of technical sergeant. Among several medals, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service caring for wounded Chinese and American soldiers, primarily along the Burma (Ledo) Road. Lee and Genevieve Lorraine "Johny" O'Gara were united in marriage on June 17, 1946, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in her hometown of Jackson, Neb. Lee and Johny farmed in Woodbury County and were parishioners of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Moville, Iowa. Johny passed away on May 24, 1984. Lee married Donna M. Bahmer in 1991 and lived in Sioux City for the rest of his life. Donna passed away on May 18, 2000. Lee enjoyed fishing and traveling. As a young man, he played baseball for a Kingsley team that traveled around Iowa and southeast South Dakota. He was invited to try out as a pitcher and third baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals farm team in the late 1930s. He was a member of the Farm Bureau and the Knights of Columbus. Survivors include Lee's children, Eileen M. Kenyon of Sioux City, Lorraine (Ron) Miller of Omaha, Victoria L. (Richard) Niedergeses of Omaha, Gary F. (Keley Smith-Keller) Keller of Rapid City, S.D., and Larry R. (Christine) Keller of Norfolk, Neb.; grandchildren, Jerry and Mark Brisky, Noelle Miller, Maggie Callon, Katie Pohlman, Joseph and David Niedergeses, Garrett Smith-Keller, Allison and Jonathon Keller, and Brenda Davis; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Louise Beck of California City, Calif.; brother-in-law, Tom O'Gara of Marble Falls, Texas; and a great many more nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Everett and Anna Keller; his wives, Genevieve Lorraine "Johny" Keller and Donna M. Keller; brothers, Elmer (Violet) Keller and Lester "Shorty" Keller; sister, Correna (Bernard) Trenkamp; brothers-in-law, Gilbert "Bill" (Rosemary) O'Gara, Michael "Rod" O'Gara, and Francis "Bart" O'Gara; and sisters-in-law, Helen (Edward) Mackey, Mary Eda (Eugene) Marcault, Dorothy (George) Cummings, and Margaret "Kay" (Frank) McKivergan.
Married 01/17/1946 Jackson Co NE to Genevieve
Married 11/16/1991 Moville Woodbury Co IA to Donna