Clarence Paul Keil

Clarence Paul Keil, 92, died Friday, July 14, 2023.Visitation will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Downing & Lahey East Mortuary. Funeral Service will be at 10:00 am, Friday, July 21, 2023 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Clarence Paul Keil was born on March 31, 1931 in Russell, Kansas to David Keil and Pauline (Ehrlich) Keil in the farmhouse during a blizzard. He was proud to be from Russell and especially proud to be from a farm. Even though he moved to Wichita, he truly never left Russell and the farm. He would regale you with stories of knowing Bob Dole, and life on the farm. Clarence’s first language was German and he took great pride in that he was able to speak German throughout his life. He loved speaking with other people who knew German.He had to quit school in the 8th grade to help on the farm, as his father was ill. In spite of this, he graduated from WSU with a degree in Engineering. He served in the Army Signal Corp as a camera repair technician in White Sands, New Mexico. He was very proud of his service and even had a brief encounter with President Eisenhower. President Eisenhower was visiting White Sands while Clarence was on duty and was standing by a radar dish. Clarence advised him to move behind a safety line because the radar on occasion would swivel around. Because of his father’s declining health, he was honorably discharged and went back to Russell. After his father’s death he moved to Wichita to work at Boeing and held many different positions with many of the major aircraft companies in town. He was even a postal carrier. He ended up retiring from Vulcan Chemicals, a job he held for the longest.On July 20, 1958, Clarence married Delores Ellen Baer in Wichita, KS. Two sons were born from this marriage: Matthew Lewis Keil and Mark Evan Keil. They spent many weekends at the farm working the land. As Mark looks back on life with his father, he remembers him as a hard worker and as someone who loved to work with his hands. He was also vey generous and would help anyone who needed help. He could fix about anything, even a few things that maybe were not worth the effort. The family would like to thank Promedica Hospice for the excellent and compassionate care they gave Clarence during the last months of his life. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Florence Batt, Palmra Brack; brothers, LeRoy, Delmar; and son, Matthew Keil.He is survived by his wife, Delores; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Maria Keil; numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins.Memorials to the Lord’s Diner, 520 N. Broadway St., Wichita, KS 67214 and Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Love Fund, 600 N. Greenwich Rd., Wichita, KS 67206.