Patricia Jane Plumb

Patricia Jane Plumb Keel, 93, Marshfield, passed away on Wednesday, September 18th, 2013, at Golden Living Center Three Oaks, with her beloved John by her side.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, September 23, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church, Marshfield, with Rev. Dr. Kevin Buchanan officiating. Burial will take place in Hillside Cemetery, Marshfield. The visitation will be held on Monday from 9:30 am until service time at the First Presbyterian Church. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Born December 9, 1919 to Howard and Vera (Searles) Plumb in Brodhead Wisconsin, she attended the public schools in Brodhead and the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater from which she graduated in 1942. She then taught Commercial Education at Wausau Senior High School for two years.

On August 22, 1944 she married John Keel at the Congregational Church in Brodhead. She was employed by the Army Corps of Engineers in San Francisco until the end of WWII. At that time she and her husband worked for a prominent photo studio in Milwaukee until April of 1947 when they opened the John H. Keel Photography Studio in Marshfield. Patricia was a key figure in the decision to accept the challenge of going into business and a vital part of every facet of the business. Her sincere concern for every customer and employee were instrumental in the success of the business. Even after her husband's retirement in 1985 she continued as Corporate Secretary for the firm until 1995.

She was a member and Past Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church since 1947. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxilary and was very active in Wisconsin photographic organizations, especially the Wisconsin Professional Photographers Association.

She is survived by her husband, John, two sons, Jack of Madison and David (Christine Haley) of Marshfield and three grandchildren, Molly (Kyle) McMullin of Taos, NM and Seth (Janet) Keel of Madison and Kelly Keel (Cale) Bredemann of Marshfield. She is further survived by five great grandchildren, Finn and Helena McMullin, Keller Kenneth and Colby David Bredemann, and Ani Amaya Keel. Also surviving are her nine nephews and five nieces; Jon (Marlene) Sveom, Dirk (Bonnie) Sveom and Jane (Terry) Sveom Cole; Jim (LeAnn), Rick (Vicky), Jeff (Connie) and Joe (Cindy) Looze and Sandra Thomas Olson, Gregg, Bryce and Stuart Keel of Madison and Patty, Christine and Jonica Keel of Spokane. She was predeceased by her loving parents, grandson Christopher David Keel, and her three sisters Charlotte Thomas of Milwaukee, Dorothy Sveom of Dousman and Agnes Looze of Brodhead.

Patricia was a very caring mother and will be sorely missed by her family and her many friends. As a grandmother and great grandmother she was forever thinking about what she could do for her family. Patricia was a friend to everyone she met and, it can truly be said that she never met anyone she did not like. She was a ray of sunshine and had a heart of gold. Many will remember her pretty smile and warm hospitality.

Mr. and Mrs. Keel enjoyed many years of travel, Switzerland, several Caribbean Islands, Hawaii and wintering in Texas, Arizona, and California. They especially enjoyed meeting new friends and visiting new places during their time motor homing all over the states for about 5 or 6 years. She especially enjoyed many games of cards with her husband.

Patricia's later years were burdened with Alzheimer's disease which she faced and handled with her usual optimism and incredible grace.