EDWARD LAWRENCE KELLER

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EDWARD LAWRENCE KELLER Surrounded by his loving family, Ed passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 27, 2003 at the age of 75 years at the Johnson Memorial Hospital. Ed was born in Camp Morton on December 4, 1927 to the late Martin and Lena Keller. At a young age Ed travelled to Red Lake, ON and worked at Campbell Mine on surface for 16 years. In 1949 Ed married his first wife Leda (Campbell), daughter of Gene and George Campbell. Ed and Leda had two children, Rick and Holly. Ed was very active in Red Lake as a member of the Red Lake and Balmertown Fire Department, president of the Balmertown Kinsman Club and a member of the Red Lake Legion. Ed was a very talented musician. He entertained at many Red Lake functions as a member of a local band for 20 years. Some of Eds happiest times was playing music with his family. Ed remained active in the band until he moved to the west coast in 1965. He then worked a heavy equipment operator and retired in 1985 after a work accident. After Leda passed away in 1988 Ed resumed his friendship with Betty Pitura (Marks). Ed and Betty married in 1989 and settled in Cloverdale, BC. In 1997 Ed and Betty moved to Gimli, MB to be more central to their extended families. They enjoyed living in Gimli Rotary Towers and all the special friendships they made. He leaves to mourn his beloved wife Betty; son Rick (Della) Keller; daughter Holly (Dave) George; stepchildren, Richard (Vivien) Pitura, Barb (Bob) Thompson, Sharon (Joe) Jankowski, Bradley (Debra) Pitura and Wendy Pitura; 22 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; brothers and sisters, Lillian (Boys) Marks, Mary (Joe) Dzydz, Joey Karsin, Jane (Joe) Falvo, Don (Marie) Keller, Art (Viv) Keller, Margaret (Dave) Chwan, Jack Keller and Betty (Henry) Jonasson. Ed was predeceased by his parents; his first wife Leda; sister Florence; brothers-in-law, Tony Karsin, Steve Sigurdson and Mike Gottfried. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 31 at 9:30 a.m. at the St. Michaels Roman Catholic Church, Gimli with Fr. Ernest Kamath officiating. All of Eds family and friends should consider themselves honorary pallbearers. Donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, 109-675 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9 or the Community Health Centre Fund, Box 1710, Gimli, R0C 1B0. In lieu of flowers, we ask that in Eds memory you make someone smile, call an old friend or say a prayer for peace. You will forever be in our hearts. Always in our memories. We love you. Gilbart Funeral Home, Gimli in care of arrangements.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 29, 2003