Rev. John E. Keller

Wauwatosa - Passed away from this earth peacefully to be with his Heavenly Father on Monday, December 21, 2020, at age 96. John was born April 23, 1924 in Jamestown, North Dakota to Rev. W.W.A. Keller and Bertha (nee Sachman) Keller. He was preceded in passing by his brothers, Rev. Paul Keller and Rev. James Keller.

He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Doris (nee Kumpf). Loving father of Rev. David (Susan) Keller and their three children: Leah (Sean) Fitzgerald and their six children; Nathan (Elizabeth) Keller and their three children; Jonathan (Becky) Keller and their three children…Phillip (Linda) Keller and their five children: Elizabeth (David) Bierman and their two children; Kevin (Nicole); Mark and his son; Keri Van Vlymen and her son; Kevin (Jamie) Mordue and their two children…Joel (Pamela) Keller and their two children: Matthew (Heidi) and their three children; Christian (Katlin) and their two children. Ten grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren in all.

Not only was John a loving husband and father, his life was one of ministry and service. He went to Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. He met his future wife, Doris, on the first day of school at Wartburg College. They were married September 6, 1946 by Doris' father, Rev. Fred Kumpf, at Zion Lutheran Church in Johnson, Nebraska. John later served as pastor at Zion after he retired from Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois.

John served many years in Specialized Ministry for the ELCA in the treatment of Alcoholism and he was recognized nationally as a pioneer in Alcoholism treatment. Prior to his retirement, he was President of Lutheran General's Alcoholism Treatment Program and Hospital.

He was an early teacher in the nationally recognized Rutgers/Yale School of Alcohol Studies. He was the author of five books, including LET GO, LET GOD. His gratitude and generosity touched the lives and hearts of many.

Special "Thank You" to the caring staff, residents, and volunteers of the Luther Manor family.

Due to health restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be planned in the future. In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to Wartburg College.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Jan. 24, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for John Keller

Sponsored by Krause Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, Inc. - Capitol Drive.

2 Entries

Arne K Jessen

June 10, 2021

Dear Doris and Family,

I want to express my sympathy and sorrow over the death of John, such an amazing human being and Christian. I first encountered John at Willmar State Hospital and later at Lutheran Social Services where John was a chaplain and I was a CPE student. About a decade later John came to work at Lutheran General Hospital where I was a chaplain. Twenty years later at a hospital ministry program for Navy Chaplains that I was conducting at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, John, not surprisingly, was unanimously rated above all other speakers two years in a row. Most recently, in 2019, Meryl and I had the joy of visiting you and John in your apartment in Wauwatosa.

Henri Nouwen said, "God intends the memories of our loved ones to be a sustaining power in our lives." Countless people, having been the fortunate recipients of John´s ministry, writing, teaching or friendship over the years, were richly blessed and empowered to live a more abundant life. I am grateful to have been one of them. John was a deep well of precious human qualities: wisdom, humility, compassion and all the wonderful fruits of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control", that the Apostle St Paul lists in Galatians. John was a Christ-like man with no pretensions. He could not only speak about the life God intended through the Gospel or the Twelve Steps of AA, John exemplified them.

May our God of grace and love always be with you,

Arne Jessen

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Arne K Jessen

June 10, 2021

Dear Doris and family, I want to express my sympathy and sorrow at the death of John, such an amazing human being, pastor, and friend. I had the privilege of encountering John twice as a CPE student in Willmar State Hospital and Lutheran Social Services, and nearly 20 years later as a colleague at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where we conducted a CPE unit together. Years later, John spoke to a group of Navy Chaplains in a CPE program I supervised at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. Not surprisingly, the chaplains unanimously rated John above all other lecturers two years in a row. John possessed some of the most precious human qualities of a mature Christian: wisdom, humility, compassion, and all the fruits of the Spirit that St Paul lists in Galatians. I am thankful for our last visit with Doris and John in Wauwatusa in 2019. Henri Nouwen said, "God intends the memory of our loved ones to be a sustaining power in our lifes." Countless people who were recipients of John's ministry, speaking, writing, and friendship were so richly blessed and empowered. I will always be grateful to have been one of them. John was a Christ- like man with no pretensions.

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