Joseph Edward Keber

Joseph E. "Bud" Keber, 91, passed away Friday, January 7, 2022. Formerly of Spalding, he was currently residing at Good Samaritan Society in Albion.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 11 ^th at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding, NE with Rev. Antony officiating. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery with military rites by American Legion Post 299 of Spalding. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday at the church, with a 7:00 p.m. wake service.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Levander Funeral Home of Spalding is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph was born October 12, 1930 at Spalding to Joseph and Mary (Ballweg) Keber. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Michael's church in Spalding. He attended grade school at District 17 in southeast Wheeler county and high school at the Spalding Academy, graduating in 1948. He farmed with his father until he was drafted into the United State Marine Corp. in February 1952, where he served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from active duty in February 1954 and returned home to continue farming with his father and brother.

On December 29, 1954, Joe married Luella Schmidt, daughter of Julius and Josephine Schmidt, at St. Michael's church in Spalding. To this union were born three children: Bruce, Joyce and Mary. Joe and Luella lived and farmed in the Akron community until his semi-retirement in 1993. At which time they moved to Spalding. In 2018, Joe moved to Good Samaritan in Albion.

Joe was a member of St. Michael's church, St. Michael's Men's Club and the American Legion Post 299 of over 50 years. He served as president for Boone County District 39 for 10 years. After moving to Spalding, he took care of the maintenance of the St. Michael's Cemetery (South Cemetery) until his health wouldn't allow him to continue.

While he loved his family and always put them first, his life was about farming. You could say he 'lived and breathed' farming. He always loved a good story or a good joke to share with a group at the Senior Center. Akin to other members of his family, he enjoyed visiting with people whether he knew them or not. The church was very important to Joe and he would donate his time in helping out when needed. One of the projects he was involved with was assisting Fr. James Murphy in making 100's  of crucifixes.

Survivors include his wife Luella of Spalding; son Bruce (Jane) of Spalding; daughter Joyce (Paul) Cote' of Arvada, CO; daughter Mary (Tom) Gansebom of Norfolk, NE; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one sister Joan Carraher; three sisters-in-law: Cecilia Keber, JoAnn Pritchard and Leona Schmidt; along with many nieces and nephews.

Family members who preceded him in death were his parents, Joseph and Mary Keber; brother Michael Keber; an infant brother; brothers-in-law: Julius Schmidt, Francis Schmidt, Jerry Carraher, Mark Pritchard, Frank Pfeifer, Don Walters, William Diessner, and Bill Watson; and sisters-in-law: Lois Schmidt, Mary Ann Pfeifer, Albina Watson, and Rose Marie Walters.