John Keithley

John Keithley LOWELL, IN - John Keithley, 98, of Lowell, IN, passed away Sunday, September 3, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jo; children: Dennis, Jack (Judy), Dawn (Dennis) Shipley, Tom (Holly), Kenny (Missy); step daughter, Cheryl (Chris) Raudabaugh; 10 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; sister, Alice Pfaff. Preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Hathaway; siblings, Dorothy Harvey, Jane Nomanson, Shirley Peterson, Richard and Dave. John graduated from Lowell High School and attended Purdue University for one year until he joined the military. He served in the Army Air Corps during WWII as a 1st Lieutenant pilot flying B-17, B-24, B-25 planes, becoming a POW in Russia from Sept. 1942-Feb. 1943. In October of 1944 John married Ruth Hathaway, married 51 yrs, and started their family. He worked on the farm raising hogs, beef cattle, waxy maize corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, and hay. He was named the Indiana Prairie Farmer (1of 6 chosen) Master Farmer in 1976. John's civic duties included, West Creek Township Advisory Board, Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, Board of LaPorte Production Credit Assoc., Trustee of his church, First United Methodist Church of Lowell. He retired in 1983 at the age of 65 and became an accomplished golfer during weekly outings with the younger retirees. He enjoyed winters at his property in Ft. Myers, FL and attended military reunions in Alaska. John's Flight Squadron was featured in a PBS documentary "Birds of a Feather, The Aleutian Eagles" and also in the book, "Home from Siberia, The Secret Odysseys of Interned American Airmen in World War II". John was also one of the people featured in the book, "All Worth Their Salt, The People of NWI" by Jeff Manes. In 1997 he married Mary Jo Gray and they spent 20 yrs. together. John Lester Keithley led an exemplary life as a father, family man, farmer, and "that guy" who always wanted to pick up the check at dinner. Visitation, Wednesday, September 6, 2017 from 10:00AM-12:00PM with Funeral Services following at 12:00PM all at SHEETS FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 604 E. Commercial Ave, Lowell, IN. Burial will take place in West Creek Cemetery with Pastor Ron Shipley officiating. In Lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Light Hospice, First United Methodist Church, or American Cancer Society. www.sheetsfuneral.com