Richard Keul (1933 – 2010)

Richard “Dick” Keul, age 77, passed away Monday November 1, 2010 at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-St. Mary’s Hospital. Born February 15, 1933 in Kenosha, he was the son of Clarence and Eunice (Knutson) Keul.

On September 12, 1953 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Kenosha he was united in marriage to Mary Laura DeRango. He was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Racine. They were the proud parents of two daughters: Sharon and Susan Keul.

Dick grew up in Kenosha and was educated in the public schools and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1951.

He served his country in the United States Army from 1953 to 1956. He was assigned to the Old Guard Regiment and served as a Presidential Honor Guard for President Dwight D. Eisenhauer. His wife Mary Laura was also with Dick in D.C. and was employed by the Health, Education and Welfare Department.

Dick was employed from 1956 to 1994 at Wisconsin Natural Gas Company. He joined the workforce as a laborer in the Kenosha District and retired as the District Manager of Kenosha, Racine and Oak Creek.

He belonged to many associations and clubs as well as serving on boards or committees involving civic and utility business. He enjoyed his friendships with colleagues doing service work as a Kenosha Rotarian, 306 Club, Kenosha Country Club and Elks Club. He was a member of The Danish Brotherhood Lodge 14 of Kenosha and also a member of The Roma Lodge of Racine.

Dick loved to travel both in the United States and abroad. He was interested and involved in the sports world. He participated in many sports and cherished his many friendships with a lot of “buddies” and team mates. He played a lot of golf with his friends in golf leagues and also with his wife and couples groups. Dick will always be remembered as a warm and generous person with an engaging sense of humor and a quick wit. He loved to tell jokes and when Dick told a joke everyone tuned in and the joy of laughter lit up the room. As his father before him Dick carried a lifelong love for the great outdoors. He enjoyed working in his yard and tending to his flower garden. His loyalty for the care of the birds in his yard is to be admired.

He often told his daughters “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice”. His family and friends whose lives he touched will miss Dick. He left this world a better place than he found it.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sharon, in 1983.Funeral services will be held on Friday November 5th 2010 at 10:00AM at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Racine. (6400-Spring Street) Visitation will be on Friday at the church from 9:00AM until the time of mass. Private burial will take place at Southern WI Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family would be appreciated with charities to be designated at a later date.

The family would also like to thank Dr. Mullane for his kind, compassionate care.