Chicago Tribune (IL) - September 18, 1949
GEN. KELLER, FORMER WINNETKA RESIDENT, DIES IN CALIFORNIA
Deceased Name: Brig. Gen. Charles Keller
Brig. Gen. Charles Keller, 81, United States army retired, formerly of Winnetka, died Friday in Coronado, Cal., it was learned, here yesterday. He and Mrs. Keller had gone to Coronado Aug. 24 to make their home after 23 years residence in Winnetka, where they lived at 503 Willow rd. Gen. Keller was deputy chief engineer of the A. E. F. in World War I and power administrator of the war industries board. Recalled to active duty in 1940, he was district army engineer in Chicago, supervising midwest river and harbor and other construction projects totaling 900 million dollars. When he retired in 1943 he was the oldest army officer on active duty. He is survived by his widow, Frances, and two sons, Ira. C., of Mundelein, and Charles Jr., of New Orleans. Funeral services were conducted in Coronado yesterday, followed by cremation. The ashes will be buried in Arlington National cemetery.
Full Bio
He was born in Rochester, New York on February 13, 1868, the son of Isaac and Fanny Keller. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy from the state of New York.
He graduated from the academy in 1890 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. His early duties included the supervision of river and harbor improvements in Alabama and Florida.
During the Spanish-American War, he strategically deployed defensive mines in the harbors of Charleston and Port Royal, South Carolina. During the Philippine-American War he commanded a company of engineers.
When he returned to the states he took charge of the U.S. Lake Survey in 1905 and was a member of several engineer boards. As a member of the Niagara Falls Committee he was instrumental in bringing about more efficient production of hydroelectric power. He then served as district engineer at Rock Island, Illinois, and inspector of the 13th Lighthouse District (Detroit, Michigan).
From 1913 to 1916 he served as the Officer in Charge of Sea Coast Defenses for river & harbor improvements in the Mobile District, Alabama. From 1916 to 1918 he served as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers and Chief of the Miscellaneous Civil Section in the Office of the Chief of Engineers. In 1918 he served as secretary of the Committee on Inland Waterways of the Railroad Administration and joint national power administrator for the Department of War and War Industries Board.
From 1918 to 1919 he served as deputy chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces. From 1919 to 1921 he served as a Resident Member of Board of Engineers for Rivers & Harbors. From 1921 to 1923 he served as engineer commissioner for the District of Columbia. In 1923 he retired from the army with the rank of Colonel and in 1930 was promoted to Brigadier General.
In 1940 he was recalled to active duty to serve as district engineer for Chicago, Illinois. In 1943 he retired for a second time.
When he retired in 1943 he was 75 years old, the oldest Army officer to serve on active duty during World War II.
After serving in the military he became a principal assistant vice president in charge of engineering for the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation. He later became the director and president of one of its operating subsidiaries.
In 1897 he married Frances Rosenfield and they had two sons, Ira C. and Charles Jr. Both of his sons would go on to serve in the military.
He died on September 16, 1949 in Coronado, California and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
For his service in the First World War he was decorated with the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honour. After his second retirement he was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Second World War.
GEN. KELLER, FORMER WINNETKA RESIDENT, DIES IN CALIFORNIA
Deceased Name: Brig. Gen. Charles Keller
Brig. Gen. Charles Keller, 81, United States army retired, formerly of Winnetka, died Friday in Coronado, Cal., it was learned, here yesterday. He and Mrs. Keller had gone to Coronado Aug. 24 to make their home after 23 years residence in Winnetka, where they lived at 503 Willow rd. Gen. Keller was deputy chief engineer of the A. E. F. in World War I and power administrator of the war industries board. Recalled to active duty in 1940, he was district army engineer in Chicago, supervising midwest river and harbor and other construction projects totaling 900 million dollars. When he retired in 1943 he was the oldest army officer on active duty. He is survived by his widow, Frances, and two sons, Ira. C., of Mundelein, and Charles Jr., of New Orleans. Funeral services were conducted in Coronado yesterday, followed by cremation. The ashes will be buried in Arlington National cemetery.
Full Bio
He was born in Rochester, New York on February 13, 1868, the son of Isaac and Fanny Keller. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy from the state of New York.
He graduated from the academy in 1890 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. His early duties included the supervision of river and harbor improvements in Alabama and Florida.
During the Spanish-American War, he strategically deployed defensive mines in the harbors of Charleston and Port Royal, South Carolina. During the Philippine-American War he commanded a company of engineers.
When he returned to the states he took charge of the U.S. Lake Survey in 1905 and was a member of several engineer boards. As a member of the Niagara Falls Committee he was instrumental in bringing about more efficient production of hydroelectric power. He then served as district engineer at Rock Island, Illinois, and inspector of the 13th Lighthouse District (Detroit, Michigan).
From 1913 to 1916 he served as the Officer in Charge of Sea Coast Defenses for river & harbor improvements in the Mobile District, Alabama. From 1916 to 1918 he served as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers and Chief of the Miscellaneous Civil Section in the Office of the Chief of Engineers. In 1918 he served as secretary of the Committee on Inland Waterways of the Railroad Administration and joint national power administrator for the Department of War and War Industries Board.
From 1918 to 1919 he served as deputy chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces. From 1919 to 1921 he served as a Resident Member of Board of Engineers for Rivers & Harbors. From 1921 to 1923 he served as engineer commissioner for the District of Columbia. In 1923 he retired from the army with the rank of Colonel and in 1930 was promoted to Brigadier General.
In 1940 he was recalled to active duty to serve as district engineer for Chicago, Illinois. In 1943 he retired for a second time.
When he retired in 1943 he was 75 years old, the oldest Army officer to serve on active duty during World War II.
After serving in the military he became a principal assistant vice president in charge of engineering for the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation. He later became the director and president of one of its operating subsidiaries.
In 1897 he married Frances Rosenfield and they had two sons, Ira C. and Charles Jr. Both of his sons would go on to serve in the military.
He died on September 16, 1949 in Coronado, California and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
For his service in the First World War he was decorated with the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honour. After his second retirement he was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Second World War.
Chicago Tribune (IL) - September 18, 1949
GEN. KELLER, FORMER WINNETKA RESIDENT, DIES IN CALIFORNIA
Deceased Name: Brig. Gen. Charles Keller
Brig. Gen. Charles Keller, 81, United States army retired, formerly of Winnetka, died Friday in Coronado, Cal., it was learned, here yesterday. He and Mrs. Keller had gone to Coronado Aug. 24 to make their home after 23 years residence in Winnetka, where they lived at 503 Willow rd. Gen. Keller was deputy chief engineer of the A. E. F. in World War I and power administrator of the war industries board. Recalled to active duty in 1940, he was district army engineer in Chicago, supervising midwest river and harbor and other construction projects totaling 900 million dollars. When he retired in 1943 he was the oldest army officer on active duty. He is survived by his widow, Frances, and two sons, Ira. C., of Mundelein, and Charles Jr., of New Orleans. Funeral services were conducted in Coronado yesterday, followed by cremation. The ashes will be buried in Arlington National cemetery.
Full Bio
He was born in Rochester, New York on February 13, 1868, the son of Isaac and Fanny Keller. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy from the state of New York.
He graduated from the academy in 1890 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. His early duties included the supervision of river and harbor improvements in Alabama and Florida.
During the Spanish-American War, he strategically deployed defensive mines in the harbors of Charleston and Port Royal, South Carolina. During the Philippine-American War he commanded a company of engineers.
When he returned to the states he took charge of the U.S. Lake Survey in 1905 and was a member of several engineer boards. As a member of the Niagara Falls Committee he was instrumental in bringing about more efficient production of hydroelectric power. He then served as district engineer at Rock Island, Illinois, and inspector of the 13th Lighthouse District (Detroit, Michigan).
From 1913 to 1916 he served as the Officer in Charge of Sea Coast Defenses for river & harbor improvements in the Mobile District, Alabama. From 1916 to 1918 he served as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers and Chief of the Miscellaneous Civil Section in the Office of the Chief of Engineers. In 1918 he served as secretary of the Committee on Inland Waterways of the Railroad Administration and joint national power administrator for the Department of War and War Industries Board.
From 1918 to 1919 he served as deputy chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces. From 1919 to 1921 he served as a Resident Member of Board of Engineers for Rivers & Harbors. From 1921 to 1923 he served as engineer commissioner for the District of Columbia. In 1923 he retired from the army with the rank of Colonel and in 1930 was promoted to Brigadier General.
In 1940 he was recalled to active duty to serve as district engineer for Chicago, Illinois. In 1943 he retired for a second time.
When he retired in 1943 he was 75 years old, the oldest Army officer to serve on active duty during World War II.
After serving in the military he became a principal assistant vice president in charge of engineering for the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation. He later became the director and president of one of its operating subsidiaries.
In 1897 he married Frances Rosenfield and they had two sons, Ira C. and Charles Jr. Both of his sons would go on to serve in the military.
He died on September 16, 1949 in Coronado, California and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
For his service in the First World War he was decorated with the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honour. After his second retirement he was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Second World War.
GEN. KELLER, FORMER WINNETKA RESIDENT, DIES IN CALIFORNIA
Deceased Name: Brig. Gen. Charles Keller
Brig. Gen. Charles Keller, 81, United States army retired, formerly of Winnetka, died Friday in Coronado, Cal., it was learned, here yesterday. He and Mrs. Keller had gone to Coronado Aug. 24 to make their home after 23 years residence in Winnetka, where they lived at 503 Willow rd. Gen. Keller was deputy chief engineer of the A. E. F. in World War I and power administrator of the war industries board. Recalled to active duty in 1940, he was district army engineer in Chicago, supervising midwest river and harbor and other construction projects totaling 900 million dollars. When he retired in 1943 he was the oldest army officer on active duty. He is survived by his widow, Frances, and two sons, Ira. C., of Mundelein, and Charles Jr., of New Orleans. Funeral services were conducted in Coronado yesterday, followed by cremation. The ashes will be buried in Arlington National cemetery.
Full Bio
He was born in Rochester, New York on February 13, 1868, the son of Isaac and Fanny Keller. He was appointed to the United States Military Academy from the state of New York.
He graduated from the academy in 1890 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers. His early duties included the supervision of river and harbor improvements in Alabama and Florida.
During the Spanish-American War, he strategically deployed defensive mines in the harbors of Charleston and Port Royal, South Carolina. During the Philippine-American War he commanded a company of engineers.
When he returned to the states he took charge of the U.S. Lake Survey in 1905 and was a member of several engineer boards. As a member of the Niagara Falls Committee he was instrumental in bringing about more efficient production of hydroelectric power. He then served as district engineer at Rock Island, Illinois, and inspector of the 13th Lighthouse District (Detroit, Michigan).
From 1913 to 1916 he served as the Officer in Charge of Sea Coast Defenses for river & harbor improvements in the Mobile District, Alabama. From 1916 to 1918 he served as Assistant to the Chief of Engineers and Chief of the Miscellaneous Civil Section in the Office of the Chief of Engineers. In 1918 he served as secretary of the Committee on Inland Waterways of the Railroad Administration and joint national power administrator for the Department of War and War Industries Board.
From 1918 to 1919 he served as deputy chief engineer for the American Expeditionary Forces. From 1919 to 1921 he served as a Resident Member of Board of Engineers for Rivers & Harbors. From 1921 to 1923 he served as engineer commissioner for the District of Columbia. In 1923 he retired from the army with the rank of Colonel and in 1930 was promoted to Brigadier General.
In 1940 he was recalled to active duty to serve as district engineer for Chicago, Illinois. In 1943 he retired for a second time.
When he retired in 1943 he was 75 years old, the oldest Army officer to serve on active duty during World War II.
After serving in the military he became a principal assistant vice president in charge of engineering for the Byllesby Engineering and Management Corporation. He later became the director and president of one of its operating subsidiaries.
In 1897 he married Frances Rosenfield and they had two sons, Ira C. and Charles Jr. Both of his sons would go on to serve in the military.
He died on September 16, 1949 in Coronado, California and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.
For his service in the First World War he was decorated with the U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal and the French Legion of Honour. After his second retirement he was decorated with the Legion of Merit for his service in the Second World War.
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