John Keenan

John Thomas Keenan, 77, of Lansing passed away unexpectedly at the home of his daughter in Manassas, VA November 30, 2019. A celebration of life will be held at T.J. Hunter’s on Main Street in Lansing Sunday, December 15 at 1 p.m.

Born October 21, 1942, the second child and eldest son of Walter and Margaretta (Smerud) Keenan, he grew up near Dorchester and attended English Bench country school. In 1956, the family moved to Lansing where his father operated the Ford garage, and where he graduated from St. George High School in 1960. From 1961 to 1965, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force in the Air Rescue Squadron. John was a skilled mechanic, a body man who loved restoring old cars, pick-ups and Ford Broncos, an excellent welder and a long haul truck driver. He loved watching NASCAR races and had, like his father before him, a great love for all things automotive.

John married Mary Wiedner of Waukon and they later divorced. He married Patricia Smith September 11, 1971 and they lived in Lansing all their married life. He is survived by his wife, Patricia; his sons, Bill Keenan and Brent (Jodie) Wurster; his daughter, Jody (Nathan) Allen; his grandchildren, Nick, Luke and Brad Wurster and Amelia and Aaron Allen; his sisters, Tina Keenan, Louise Keenan and Denise Keenan of La Crosse, WI, Mary Ellen Mohn of Lansing, and Alene Keenan of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; his brothers, Kevin (Maria) Keenan and Tim Keenan of Grand Junction, CO; his mother-in-law, Irene Smith; his sisters-in-law, Jeanie Carroll, Mickey (Jerry) Seitz, Peggy (Bob) Larkin, Laurie (John) Rethwisch and Becky (Loren) Miller; his brother-in-law, Robert Smith; as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Robert “Bud” Smith; a sister, Andrea Keenan; a niece, Jessica Mohn Hogendorn; his nephews, Aaron Mohn and Jason Flanagan; and his brothers-in-law, Lenny Schnick, Thomas L. Mohn, Donald Detzler and David Carroll.

John never met a stranger. He was a warm, amiable man whose many friends will miss him greatly. He was a devoted husband and father and adored by his grandchildren. He was intelligent, had a wicked wit and a huge appetite for a good western novel. In spite of the challenge of a service-related hearing loss and the aortic aneurysm of a few years ago, he lived his last years with his usual strength of character and full enjoyment of life.

John and Pat, great animal lovers, recently lost their beloved dog, Sophie. We feel sure that Sophie is once again at her master’s side.