Obituary for Donald Wayne Kellen
Donald Wayne Kellen, 91, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at the Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, August 14, 2023, at All Saints Catholic Parish – St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Father Doug Klein will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Le Mars with military honors conducted by Wasmer Post #241 of the American Legion. Visitation with the family present will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday at St. Joseph Church. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 3:00 p.m. followed by a Scriptural Prayer Service at 5:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the church on Monday prior to Mass.
Donald Wayne Kellen was born on September 14, 1931, on a farm near Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Steven and Frances (Kemp) Kellen. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in Le Mars in 1949. Following his education, Don assisted his father and area neighbors with farming.
On December 8, 1952, Don was drafted into the United States Army. He served in Korea during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class prior to earning an Honorable Discharge on November 2, 1954 having attained the rank of Sgt. 1st Class.
Don and Mary Jane Wagner were united in marriage on November 25, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa. They made their first home on a farm northeast of Remsen, Iowa. In 1959, they moved to a farm east of Seney, Iowa. The family then moved to a farm east of Le Mars in 1961 before settling on the home place south of Le Mars.
In addition to farming, Don worked at the ASC office from 1979 to 1981. He then became an adjuster for Federal Crop Insurance. Cattle feeding was his passion and through that passion, along with his son Dee Jay; Kellen Feedlot was born and exists today. In his later years, Don continued to help by doing "drive through check ins" and even assisted in farming operations through this past spring.
He was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish in Le Mars, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Korean War Last Man’s Club.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 68 years, Mary Jane Kellen of Le Mars, IA; his children, Deborah Kellen of Le Mars, IA, Del (Lori) Kellen of Le Mars, IA, Dena (John) Cochran of Le Mars, IA, Dean (Tammy) Kellen of Alcester, SD, Denise (Larry) Timmins of Le Mars, IA, Deanna (Darrell) Douvia of Le Mars, IA and Dee Jay (Bobbi) Kellen of Le Mars, IA; 26 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren (with more on the way); and 1 great-great-grandchild; a brother, Richard (Norinne) Kellen of Elkhorn, NE; sisters, Mary Ellen (James) Wittkop of Broomfield, CO, Anita Mae (Richard) Heidesch of Goodyear, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandsons, Jashua Clark, Patrick Kellen and Tyler Douvia; great-granddaughters, Madison Fuller and Samantha Clark; son-in-law, Loren Clark; 4 infant sisters; sisters, Sylvia (Albert) Anthony, Margaret (James) Alesch, Patricia (Harry) Carl and Diane (John) Cook; brothers, Robert (Glenis) Kellen and Le Roy (Viola) Kellen.
Donald Wayne Kellen was born on September 14, 1931, on a farm near Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Steven and Frances (Kemp) Kellen. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in Le Mars in 1949. Following his education, Don assisted his father and area neighbors with farming.
On December 8, 1952, Don was drafted into the United States Army. He served in Korea during the Korean War and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class prior to earning an Honorable Discharge on November 2, 1954 having attained the rank of Sgt. 1st Class.
Don and Mary Jane Wagner were united in marriage on November 25, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa. They made their first home on a farm northeast of Remsen, Iowa. In 1959, they moved to a farm east of Seney, Iowa. The family then moved to a farm east of Le Mars in 1961 before settling on the home place south of Le Mars.
In addition to farming, Don worked at the ASC office from 1979 to 1981. He then became an adjuster for Federal Crop Insurance. Cattle feeding was his passion and through that passion, along with his son Dee Jay; Kellen Feedlot was born and exists today. In his later years, Don continued to help by doing "drive through check ins" and even assisted in farming operations through this past spring.
He was a member of All Saints Catholic Parish in Le Mars, the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Korean War Last Man’s Club.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 68 years, Mary Jane Kellen of Le Mars, IA; his children, Deborah Kellen of Le Mars, IA, Del (Lori) Kellen of Le Mars, IA, Dena (John) Cochran of Le Mars, IA, Dean (Tammy) Kellen of Alcester, SD, Denise (Larry) Timmins of Le Mars, IA, Deanna (Darrell) Douvia of Le Mars, IA and Dee Jay (Bobbi) Kellen of Le Mars, IA; 26 grandchildren, 50 great-grandchildren (with more on the way); and 1 great-great-grandchild; a brother, Richard (Norinne) Kellen of Elkhorn, NE; sisters, Mary Ellen (James) Wittkop of Broomfield, CO, Anita Mae (Richard) Heidesch of Goodyear, CA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandsons, Jashua Clark, Patrick Kellen and Tyler Douvia; great-granddaughters, Madison Fuller and Samantha Clark; son-in-law, Loren Clark; 4 infant sisters; sisters, Sylvia (Albert) Anthony, Margaret (James) Alesch, Patricia (Harry) Carl and Diane (John) Cook; brothers, Robert (Glenis) Kellen and Le Roy (Viola) Kellen.