Elizabeth Ann Kellen

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alton, IA with Rev. Dan Greving officiating and Deacon Dan Goebel assisting. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Alton.  Visitation with family present will be 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, there will be a parish rosary and vigil prayer service all at 5 p.m. all at the Church in Alton.  Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church.  Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen, IA.

Liz was born March 15, 1940, in Carroll, IA the daughter of Raymond and Catherine (Bueltel) Neitzel. 

She graduated from Audubon High School and then graduated from Briar Cliff College with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education in 1962. 

On June 12, 1962, Liz was united in Catholic matrimony to Joseph Kellen and together they raised nine rambunctious children on the Kellen farm in rural Alton. In 2007, Joe and Liz moved to town where they continued to be active in the community and their children’s lives.  Joe passed away May 14, 2018.

Liz was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. After she married, she worked at St. Mary’s Grade School as their first lay teacher. She was a homemaker after they started a family and then began working for USDA ACSC in Orange City in 1986. She retired in 2006. She was active in the church where she served on the finance board, St. Mary’s Guild, Catholic Daughters of America, RCIA instructor and sponsor, eucharistic minister and served many years as the parish’s lay director. And was famously known for chairing the 1970 St. Mary’s Cookbook. She was on the Catholic School Foundation, Annual Bishop’s Dinner Committee, and member of the Bishop’s Circle for the Sioux City Diocese. 

In her community she was an active Girl Scout leader, served on the Cub Scout Pack Board, Sioux County Extension Council, and Spalding Catholic High School Advisory Board. Her passion was helping her alma mater where she was on the various boards and spent many years on Briar Cliff Alumni Association Board. 

Left to cherish Liz’s memory are her nine children: Anne (Dean) Torgerson, Mary Hunt, Judy Kellen, Joni Kellen (Keith Lamfers), Neal (Tammy) Kellen, Karl (Missy) Kellen, Tony (Gina) Kellen, Cari Kellen (fiancé Bob Lee), Rick (Gwen) Kellen; 28 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren; her sister, Eva Neitzel, in-laws: Jean Kellen, Jerry (Perry) Kellen, Arnie (Peggy) Kellen; and many other family members and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, her parents, her father and mother-in-law, Aloysius and Elizabeth Kellen; in-laws: Lou Kellen, Dolores and Sylvester Hansen, Lawrence and Doris Kellen, Agnes and Melvin Ruba, Red and Ann Kellen, Daniel and Sandy Kellen, brother Leonard and Joan Neitzel; granddaughter, Gabrielle Kellen; and son-in-law, JD Hunt. 

Casket bearers will be Nick Torgerson, Mitchell Hunt, Jozef Lamfers, Zach Kellen, Morgan Kellen, Lucas Nelson, Colten Gerloff & Caleb Gerloff. 

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

“See you in the funny papers!” - Liz