Joseph Henry Kellen

In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to Briar Cliff University or Alton St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Joseph Henry Kellen, 80, of Alton, Iowa passed away on Monday, May 14, 2018, at a Sioux City hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 18, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, IA with Rev. Dan Greving officiating. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Alton. Graveside military honors will be conducted by Floyd Post 200 American Legion of Alton. Visitation with family present will be 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, with a K of C rosary and vigil prayer service all at 5:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen.

Joe was born March 15, 1938, to Aloysius W. and Elizabeth C. (Stoll) Kellen in Alton, IA.
He graduated from St. Mary’s Academy and then attended the University of St. Thomas. Joe was enlisted in the United States Air Force but his true passion was farming which he enjoyed for over 60 years.

On June 12, 1962, Joe was united in Catholic matrimony to Elizabeth Ann Neitzel and together they raised nine spirited children on the family farm where Joe was born and raised. In 2008, Joe and Liz moved to Alton where he continued to be active in the community and his children’s lives.

Joe was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he was the first lay lector and continued that role for 50 years. He was proud to be a Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus, president of Spalding Catholic School Board and president St. Mary’s Parish Board. He was a member of the American Legion Post 200, Spalding School Bus Assoc., Annual Bishop’s Dinner committee, and the Farmers’ Co-op Oil Board. Throughout the years Joe also enjoyed bowling, attending his children and grandchildren’s activities, taking photographs, supporting Briar Cliff University, making stovetop popcorn and good conversation.

Left to cherish Joe’s memory are his wife of 55 years, Liz; nine children, Anne (Dean) Torgerson, Mary Hunt, Judy Kellen, Joni Kellen (Keith Lamfers), Neal (Tammy) Kellen, Karl (Missy) Kellen, Tony (Gina) Kellen, Cari Kellen, Rick (Gwen) Kellen; 28 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; four brothers, Lou (Jean) Kellen, Red (Ann) Kellen, Jerry (Perry) Kellen, Arnie (Peggy) Kellen; in-laws, Melvin Ruba, Sandy Kellen, Leonard Neitzel and Eva Neitzel; and many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, Raymond and Catherine Neitzel; siblings, Dolores and Sylvester Hansen, Agnes Ruba, Lawrence and Doris Kellen, Daniel Kellen, and sister-in-law, Joan Neitzel; granddaughter, Gabrielle Kellen; and son-in-law, JD Hunt.

Casket bearers will be, Justin Hunt, Zach Kellen, Jozef Lamfers, Lucas Hunt, Colten Gerloff and Lucas Nelson.