Elsie Keilen

Elsie A. Keilen, age 94, of Faribault, passed away on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault following an extended illness.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 139 Mercy Drive, with Rev. Byron Hagan, officiating. Interment will be held at the St. Lawrence Cemetery, Faribault.

Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to services.

The family prefers that memorials be directed to Bethlehem Academy High School, Divine Mercy Catholic School or Divine Mercy Catholic Church in memory of Elsie.

Elsie Anna, the daughter of James and Agnes (Malecha) Rezac, was born on December 31, 1921 at their family farm in Wheatland Township, Rice County, MN. On June 3, 1941 she was united in marriage to Leo Keilen at the Annunciation Catholic Church in Hazelwood. Leo preceded her in death on June 2, 2010. Elsie stayed at home to raise their family and was known for love of cooking. She enjoyed feeding her family and friends that would show up at the house. She especially enjoyed baking bread and kolacky's. Elsie liked going on trips to the casino and playing bingo. She was a member of Catholic United, Rice County Steam and Gas Association and the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary.

The family would like to thank all of the staff at Sheltering Arms for the loving care that was given to their mother.

She is survived by her ten children, Lucille Erickson of Brooklyn Center, MN, Margaret (Raymond) Surbaugh of Rainelle, WV, John (Linda) Keilen, Jim (Kathy) Keilen, Roger Keilen, all of Faribault, MN, Agnes (Frank) Simek of Alford, FL, Dennis Keilen of Bradenton, FL, Mark (Faye) Keilen of Winterhaven, FL, Mary (Scott) Anderson of Davenport, IA and Gary (Debra) Keilen of Faribault, MN; by 23 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and a great great grandson; by many step grandchildren and step great grandchildren; by two sisters, Mary Ann (Clint) Kruse of Northfield, MN and Judy Mattson of Dundas, MN and by nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one granddaughter, one great granddaughter, one granddaughter-in-law, three sisters, Rose Rowan, Blanche Cox and Rita Dougherty, by five brothers, Jack, Eugene, Bernard, James, and Lawrence Rezac and by a son-in-law, Clifford Erickson.