GREAT BEND -- Patrick Keenan, 79, of Great Bend, died June 28, at Great Bend Regional Hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1934, in Great Bend, the son of Patrick and Mary Hall Keenan. On April 11, 1956, he married Dortha Willis at St. Rose Church in Great Bend. He attended grade school at St. Francis Xavier in Seward and graduated from Great Bend High school in 1952.  
Keenan enlisted in the 328th AAA reserve group, US Army Reserve in 1951 and separated eight years later at the rank of Sergeant First Class. Keenan graduated from Missouri Auction School in 1958 to assist his father with Keenan Auction Company. He auctioned for 45 years and was partner with his wife, Dortha at Keenan Real Estate, Inc. He loved his work as an auctioneer and was known for his smile and witty comments.
He served four years on the Great Bend City Council, four years on the Kansas Real Estate Commission, and eight years on the Barton County Commission. He held the Chair of the Real Estate Advisory Committee at Wichita State University. He was the first Realtor of the Year by the Great Bend Board of Realtors and was a charter member of the Great Bend Real Estate Multi-list System. Keenan held countless charity auctions including those for the Barton Community College Foundation, Barton and Stafford County 4-H, Art Inc., Ducks Unlimited, Catholic Social Service, St. Lawrence Catholic Student Center in Lawrence and other non-profit organizations. He was a 50 year member of the Knights of Columbus and Elks. Keenan was an active member of Prince of Peace Parish – St. Patrick Church holding positions including chairman of the Finance Committee, chairman of the Parish Hall Building Committee, chairman of the Dodge City Diocesan Development Program, Eucharistic Minister, and athletic coach.
Survivors include his wife Dortha of the home; and four children, Kelly R. Keenan and wife Sharon of Houston, Texas, Cade Patrick Keenan and wife Sara, of Kansas City, Mo., Christopher C. Keenan and wife Amanda of Minneapolis, Minn. and Carrie Keenan Nash and husband Todd of Boulder, Colo.; eight grandchildren, Connor Patrick Nash, Parker Nash, Audrey Keenan, Samuel Patrick Keenan, Anna Keenan, Katherine Keenan, Emma Keenan and Madeline Keenan; three brothers, Larry, Denny, and Terry; one sister, Gloria Keenan Ball; one step-brother David Folkerts; and one step-sister Georgia Bauer. He was preceded in death by brothers Paul, Russell, Ora, Robert; and sisters Louise Dale, Sylvia Langher, and June Klepper.
Vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening, followed by a Knights of Columbus Rosary, both at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend. Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday at St. Patrick Church with Revs. Donald Bedore and Warren Stecklein officiating. Burial will be at Great Bend Cemetary. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Holy Family School Endowment or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, both in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
    
Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home*
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Tribune) July 1, 2014