Althea E. Reekie...Age 89

CREMATION

MEMORIAL SERVICE:10:30am JUNE 15,2013 TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH, 34868 BLOCK RD. PAOLA, KANSAS

BURIAL TO FOLLOW

MEMORIALS: TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH

Memorials may be sent to Thrinity Lutheran Church or in care of the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home, P.O. Box 430 Osawatomie, Kansas 66064.

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Althea E. Keller Mueller Reekie, age 89, of Osawtomie, Kansas died June 3, 2013 at the Life Care Center of Osawatomie.


Althea was born March 12, 1924 in Barnes, Kansas the fifth child of nine children to Otto Christian John “Rev. O.C.J” Keller and Dora Hornbostel Keller.

She grew up in Block and attended grade school at Trinity Lutheran until 1937. She was confirmed in 1938. She attended Paola High School graduating in 1942. Althea attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri where she received her diploma in nursing in 1945.



On March 28, 1948 she married Paul Andrew Mueller in Block, Kansas. They made their home east of Block and raised five children. Paul died on May 6, 1987.

Althea was a registered nurse and worked at St. Luke’s Hospital, hospitals in Denver and Colorado Springs, Colorado, Miami County Hospital, and the Osawatomie State Hospital.

Althea married William Merritt “Bill” Reekie on March 8, 1991. They made their home in Osawtomie. Bill died on January 23, 2007.

Althea was the President of the Kansas District Nurses Association, President of the Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aide, President of the Trinity Lutheran LWML and secretary of the Miami County Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and she taught Sunday school at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Block.

Althea was an avid reader and she loved to quilt, fish and play golf. She also collected coins. She was an active member of the Red Hats Society and Trinity Lutheran Church.

She was preceded in death by her two husbands, two sisters: Esther Prothe and Rhoda Knight, three brothers: Rev. Edgar Keller, Herbert Keller and an unnamed stillborn brother and two grand children: Aubrey Chase Mueller and Maria Christine Perez.

She is survived by two sons: James Mueller (Shelisa) of Wamego, Kansas and Joseph Mueller of Topeka, Kansas. Three daughters: Barbara Jane Chilcoat(Jim) of St. Joseph, Missouri, Judith Parks(Doug) of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Jill Newland(Doug) of Manhattan, Kansas. Three step-children: Chris Reekie(Lila) of Williamsburg, Kansas, Penny McClure of Plano, Tx and Lea Shepard(Kevin) of Independence, Kansas. Three brothers: Reverend Elfred Keller of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Harold Keller of Ponca City, Oklahoma and Col. Noel J. Keller of Tustin, California. Nine grandchildren, five step-grandchildren and ten great - grandchildren and another one on the way.