Keith L. Willets

Keith L. Willets of Elwood passed away Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Kearney Regional Hospital at the age of 99. Keith was born Dec 11, 1920 on the Levine Farm on turkey creek south of Smithfield, Ne. Keith was the oldest of the for children of Carl and Eleanora (Nora Fastenau Willets). He graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1938. He worked as a farm hand for the Bossungs near Johnson Lake. It was at this time he met Ruth Kirwan.  Keith boarded at Bossung’s and Ruth was teaching at the Antelope School and got room and board from Bossung’s as part of her pay. They were married on July 2, 1944 at the home of her mother, Flossie Kirwan, in Elwood.  Keith was Baptized earlier that morning at the Methodist Church in Elwood. On July 3 they boarded the train in Lexington and moved to Clarksville, TN.  Keith was stationed at Camp Campbell, KY.  At the end of his basic training Ruth moved back to Nebraska to resume teaching and Keith (as Ruth often joked) went to Europe for the Honeymoon. (He would reply to this “it wasn’t much of a honeymoon” during WWII). To this union were born 5 children Sandra (David Nienkamp) of Edgar, NE, Patricia Luck of Lexington, NE, John (Connie Hall) of Cozad, Kenneth Willets, and William Willets of Elwood. Keith was preceded in death by His Parents Carl and Nora, his 3 sisters Juanita Bourbon, Lexington, Maxine (Roger) Pegelow of Two Harbors, MN and Naomi (Donald) Teetor of San Antonio, TX.  His son Kenneth of Cozad, grandchildren Sherry & Edward Willets, 3 brothers in law, 3 sisters in law and Ruth’s parents. He is survived by his daughters Sandra and Patricia, his sons John and William and their families.  And numerous Nieces  and nephews as well as many friends. Memorials are suggested to the family in his name for later designation. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Services will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Parkview Baptist Church in Lexington with Pastor John Shields officiating. Burial will follow at Elwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. with family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home.