RUSH CENTER — Ray L. "Pete" Keener, 75, died Nov. 15, 2011 at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center.

He was born Aug. 4, 1936 in rural Rush Center, the son of Fred and Frances (Schreiber) Keener.

In 1954, he graduated from LaCrosse High School. On April 28, 1962 he married Virginia L. Weichen at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Timken. A lifelong resident of Rush County, he was a welder and farmer before his retirement. Mr. Keener was a veteran of the United States Army.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia L. Keener, Rush Center; two sons, Charles Ray Keener, and wife, MaryAnn Keener, Great Bend, and Fredrick Jerome Keener, and wife, Julie Keener, Hill City; a sister, Betty Misegadis, Rush Center; two brothers, William "Bill" Keener, Great Bend; and George Keener, Rush Center; and six grandchildren, Devin Keener, Ellie Keener, Nicholas Freund, Michael Freund, Alex Freund, and Jessica Freund.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Frances (Schreiber) Keener; and a son, Michael LaVerne Keener.

Funeral services are scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in LaCrosse with Father Pascal Klein officiating. Burial will be at the LaCrosse City Cemetery. Friends may visit from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Janousek Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday followed by a Vigil Service at 7 p.m., and from 9 to 9:50 a.m. Friday at the church.

Memorials are suggested to the Rush County Fair Association.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Janousek Funeral Home*

719 Pine

La Crosse, KS 67548

Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Nov. 17, 2011