James Russell Keen, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 14, 2011, after a long struggle with prostate cancer. Jim was born in Juda, WI, February 18, 1930. He graduated from North Central College in Naperville, IL and married his college sweetheart, Marianne Wilt, in 1952. They had two children, David and Katherine.
Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was trained at the Army Language School in Monterey. He used his fluency in French and German while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Once he completed his service, Jim began a career in advertising, first in Evansville, IN and then Indianapolis. He held senior positions at the Bozell & Jacobs and Handley & Miller advertising agencies. Some of his favorite clients were American Fletcher National Bank, Indiana Bell, and Dairy Queen. His work led him to be actively involved with the Indiana State High School Basketball Tournament and the Indianapolis Ad Club. Jim produced commercials with Jack Benny and other leading talents of the 1950s and 1960s. After Marianne's death from cancer at the age of 43, Jim moved to California. He worked for Sacramento Savings and then started his own advertising firm in Carmel. Jim's work took him to French-speaking countries throughout the world. He lived and worked in Lebanon, Tunisia, the Ivory Coast, Haiti and Egypt, helping to create and market household savings accounts in those countries.
Jim met and married Louise McKee in 1986. They enjoyed 25 years together, residing in the Del Mesa community of Carmel. Jim and Louise enjoyed trips in their motorhome for many years, spending summers with grandchildren on the Hood Canal in Washington state where family enjoyed water skiing and harvesting clams, crab and fish. Jim and Louise also enjoyed extensive travel abroad.
After retirement, Jim found a great passion in his work as a substitute teacher. He proudly displayed loving notes and artwork from students who appreciate his passion, humor, and focused attention. He loved sports, and was an avid Green Bay Packers and Giants fan. Jim enjoyed golf, lawn bowling, bridge, and singing with fellow residents of the Del Mesa community and within his congregation at the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Jim is survived by his wife of 25 years, Louise McKee Keen; his son David (Annette) of Denver, CO; daughter Katherine of Pacific Grove, CA; and grandson Alex (Ashley) of Orlando, FL. Jim was the youngest of seven children of Arthur and Edith Keen of Juda. He is survived by his sister Dorothy (Ted) Olson of Denver, CO, and brother Bob (Phyllis) of Brodhead.
Jim had requested that his ashes be returned to the Juda cemetery where Marianne is buried.
Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was trained at the Army Language School in Monterey. He used his fluency in French and German while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. Once he completed his service, Jim began a career in advertising, first in Evansville, IN and then Indianapolis. He held senior positions at the Bozell & Jacobs and Handley & Miller advertising agencies. Some of his favorite clients were American Fletcher National Bank, Indiana Bell, and Dairy Queen. His work led him to be actively involved with the Indiana State High School Basketball Tournament and the Indianapolis Ad Club. Jim produced commercials with Jack Benny and other leading talents of the 1950s and 1960s. After Marianne's death from cancer at the age of 43, Jim moved to California. He worked for Sacramento Savings and then started his own advertising firm in Carmel. Jim's work took him to French-speaking countries throughout the world. He lived and worked in Lebanon, Tunisia, the Ivory Coast, Haiti and Egypt, helping to create and market household savings accounts in those countries.
Jim met and married Louise McKee in 1986. They enjoyed 25 years together, residing in the Del Mesa community of Carmel. Jim and Louise enjoyed trips in their motorhome for many years, spending summers with grandchildren on the Hood Canal in Washington state where family enjoyed water skiing and harvesting clams, crab and fish. Jim and Louise also enjoyed extensive travel abroad.
After retirement, Jim found a great passion in his work as a substitute teacher. He proudly displayed loving notes and artwork from students who appreciate his passion, humor, and focused attention. He loved sports, and was an avid Green Bay Packers and Giants fan. Jim enjoyed golf, lawn bowling, bridge, and singing with fellow residents of the Del Mesa community and within his congregation at the Church of the Good Shepherd.
Jim is survived by his wife of 25 years, Louise McKee Keen; his son David (Annette) of Denver, CO; daughter Katherine of Pacific Grove, CA; and grandson Alex (Ashley) of Orlando, FL. Jim was the youngest of seven children of Arthur and Edith Keen of Juda. He is survived by his sister Dorothy (Ted) Olson of Denver, CO, and brother Bob (Phyllis) of Brodhead.
Jim had requested that his ashes be returned to the Juda cemetery where Marianne is buried.