John Keen
| Date of Interment or Death | 03/03/1948 |
|---|---|
| Location | Old Fairview |
| Section | D |
| Block-Lot-Grave | 19-3-1n |
Obituary
J. J. Keen Dies Suddenly From Heart Attack
Pioneer Druggist Succumbs At Home Here Monday Night
John J. Keen, 73, pioneer Wahpeton druggist, died suddenly Monday night at his home in the duplex just north of the Wahpeton Floral company. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon from the Vertin Funeral Chapel in this city at two o’clock. Rev. Fr. Lommel of St. John’s church read the services. Burial was in Fairview Cemetery here.
Mr. Keen was born November 20, 1875 in Wisconsin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Keen. The family moved to Wahpeton while John was a youth. He attended school here and worked in the C. D. Rittenhouse drug store until he became a registered pharmacist.
After he became license, he went to Gary, Minnesota where he operated a drug store, later going to Minto, North Dakota and thence to Wahpeton where he owned and operated the Wahpeton Drug Company many years. In 1931, he sold his store and moved to Grafton North Dakota where he owned and operated a drug store until about three years ago when Mr. and Mrs. Keen returned to Wahpeton to make their home among his old friends.
Mr. Keen was married to Florence Watson and the couple lived in Wahpeton until 1931. They had a daughter, Dorothy who died about 19 years ago. He wife died in Grafton about seven years ago. She is buried in Fairview cemetery here.
On December 21, 1944, Mr. Keen married Mrs. Clara Hills at Fergus Falls, and it was at that time that the couple came to Wahpeton to make their home.
Surviving besides Mrs. Keen are a brother, George of St Paul, Minnesota, three nephews, Arnold and Vernon Forbes, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph G. Forbes, Wahpeton and Ronald Keen, and a niece, Shirley, son and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Keen. A step-daughter, Mrs. John M. West, Fergus Falls also survives. John Keen was a member of the Civic club at Grafton during his sojourn there, and for many years was a member of the masonic lodge, first at Wahpeton, then at Grafton at the time of his death. He belonged to the Odd Fellows lodge here.
Pallbearers will be: Donald Lum, Merle Hoppert, Otis Larson, Sven Henricksen, Gilbert Reeder, Leo Kaiser, Dean Swanson and A. W. Hoppert. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. C. J. Gapel, Dr. Westgate, Chas. Otto, H.C. Aamoth, J.C West, James Bingham, D.D.Swank, Chas. Glander, W.A. Farnsworth, Geo. Reeder, and V.C. Ramstad.
Headstone photograph(s)
Location
Old Fairview is located on the southern half of the cemetery grounds.