In Memory
Wallace Edward Keen, 90, of McCook passed away Saturday, January 19, 2019, at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Lincoln. Wallace was born October 17, 1928, in Red Willow County to Martin and Helen Anna (Potthoff) Keen. He graduated from McCook High School with the class of 1947. He obtained his associate’s degree in 1949 at McCook College. In 1951, Wallace trained to be a telegraph operator for Burlington Northern Railroad at Red Cloud, Neb. For the next 25 years, he communicated train orders across the lines to more than 110 rail stations including Sheridan, Wyoming; St. Joseph, Missouri; and Illinois before coming home to McCook. After 39 years of dedicated service, Wallace retired from the railroad as wire chief in 1989. Modern technology made him one of the last telegraph operators in the United States. On Aug. 14, 1960, he was united in marriage to Elfriede Lὕttmann at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook, where he remained as a member. To this to this marriage were born two daughters, Heide and Angela. He enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe. While he was a technology enthusiast, his other interests included fishing and hunting deer, pheasants and turkey. Preceding him in death were his parents, Martin and Helen Keen; two brothers, Warren Keen and Elmer Dean Keen and his wife, Anita; and one sister, Janice Breinig. Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Elfriede Keen of McCook; daughters, Heide and her husband, Simon Perry, of Munich, Germany and Angela and her husband, Norman Tabije, of Honolulu; two grandchildren, Alex Perry and Sarah Perry; two step-grandsons, Logan Tabije and Lance Tabije; two brothers, Cletus Keen and his wife, JoAnn, of Los Angeles and Truman Keen and his wife, Shirley, of Omaha; brother-in-law, Lyle Breinig of Arapahoe; sister-in-law, Vi Keen of Denver; along with numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and a host of extended family and friends. Memorials may be given in his memory to Peace Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m., Sunday, January 27, 2019, at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook. Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 28, 2019, at Peace Lutheran Church in McCook, with Pastor Lonnie Felcher officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook entrusted with arrangements.
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