Obituary: Rachael Keller

Rachael Keller died peacefully in the presence of her family on Aug. 19, 2010, at the age of 92. She was born in Burlington on May 13, 1918, the first child of Chester and Nellie Wagaman. Rachael grew up on the family farm near Emporia, along with her two brothers, Loren and Roy.

After graduating from Emporia High School, Rachael attended Emporia Teacher’s College to obtain a teaching certificate. She then taught in rural elementary schools near Emporia for three years and saved funds for further education. At Kansas State College, she was a resident of Clovia Sorority and was inducted into Omicron Nu and Phi Kappa Phi honorary societies.  Also at Kansas State, Rachael met her future husband, Ed Keller, on a blind date.  She graduated with honors from Kansas State in 1942 with a degree in home economics.

Rachael rekindled her relationship with Ed Keller after starting her new job as a home economics Extension agent in Marion County, where Ed was working as a veterinarian. They were married on Aug. 15, 1943, in Oakland, Calif., where Ed had started serving in the veterinary corps of the U.S. Army. 

After Ed’s discharge, they established their family home on a farm just outside of St. Francis.  Together, Ed and Rachael managed Ed’s veterinary practice, a purebred Hereford cattle herd, and a farming operation in northwest Kansas and eastern Colorado from 1945 until Ed’s death in 1976.

Rachael used her home economics degree in many endeavors. Shortly after arriving in St. Francis, she was recruited to teach home economics at the high school for a year. She also served as a Weight Watchers lecturer and leader for many years. As a homemaker and a wife of a rancher and veterinarian, she kept books for the family enterprises, served as the anesthetist for small animal surgery, fed and groomed show cattle, fixed fence, stacked hay, and raised five children.

One of her longest lasting responsibilities was as a community and project leader in the Plum Creek 4-H Club for 50 years. She was also an active member of P.E.O., AAUW, American Legion Auxiliary, Tuesday Club, Better Homes Extension Unit, the Cheyenne County Airport Authority, and the Cheyenne County Cancer Society. 

Rachael was also very active in the Zion and Peace Lutheran Churches in St. Francis. She taught adult Sunday School until she reached 91 years of age, served as a Church Council director and officer, sang in the choir, served as a sponsor for Luther League, and baked homemade rolls for countless church dinners.

Rachael would say her most important roles were those as a wife and a mother of five children, and as a mother-in-law, a grandmother, a great grandmother, and an aunt. She supported her children, nieces, nephews and grandchildren in their church, school, 4-H, athletic, music, and community activities. In addition to supporting local schools, she was an avid fan of Kansas State University activities and athletics for over seventy years. She even attended Kansas State football and basketball games in her 91st year.

After Ed’s death in 1976, Rachael moved to a new home in St. Francis, where she lived 34 years and continued an active role in the community. In 1977 she helped establish the St. Francis Nutrition Site Senior Center. She was a co-manager and manager of the Senior Center until her retirement at age 84 and continued to volunteer there until age 91.

Rachael also helped organize the Cheyenne County Alcohol and Drug Council and served as a co-director and a volunteer until the age of 90. After Ed’s memorial funds were used to help establish a local EMT program, she took classes and served as one of the initial first responders. Throughout her life, she was a wonderful role model for the many lives she touched and was a great example of a servant-leader.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Chester and Nellie; her husband, Ed; and her brother, Roy Wagaman. 

Survivors include: her children and their spouses, Linda Fornelli (Rick), Tom Keller (Lea), Bill Keller (Cindy), Richard Keller (Mary), and Laura Lee Harwood (Doug); 14 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and her brother, Loren Wagaman.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to the St. Francis Senior Center, sent in care of Knodel Funeral Home, Box 606, St. Francis, KS 67756.