Illola (Lola) Marguerite (Flater) Keefe

Monday, March 6, 2017 6:37 pm

Illola (Lola) Marguerite (Flater) Keefe, 90, died peacefully with her daughters by her side, Sunday, March 5, 2017, at Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah.
Illola (Lola) Marguerite (Flater) Keefe was born Nov. 13, 1926, in Clear Lake, the daughter of Norman C. and Beatrice A. (Miller) Flater. She was raised in Floyd, and graduated from Floyd consolidated high school with the class of 1944. She went to nursing school at the University of Minnesota and graduated with a registered nursing degree. She was united in marriage to Joseph C. Keefe July 17, 1948, at the University of Iowa Student Center Rectory in Iowa City. This union was blessed with two daughters, Kathryn and Mary. They lived in Carroll and Clear Lake, before settling in Decorah in 1955. In her long career, Lola was a surgical nurse at the Smith Memorial Hospital in Decorah and a registered nurse at the Luther College Health Service; she retired from there in 1988. Lola was an active member of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. She served as Eucharistic minister and was a member of St. Theresa’s Circle and Catholic Daughters of America. Lola had many interests including the games of bridge and golf. She was a member of Silvercrest and Oneota Golf and Country Clubs, and she won championship titles at both clubs. Joe and Lola were married 61 years at the time of his death.

Lola’s family was very important to her. Lola is survived by her two daughters: Kathryn K. Davis of Minneapolis, Minn. and Mary K. (Michael) Grove of Forest Lake Minn.; two grandsons, Michael J. and Matthew J. Grove of Forest Lake; one brother, Donald (Carol) Flater of Fox Lake, Ill.; and by many nieces and nephews.
Lola was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Joseph, Aug. 3, 2009; her son-in-law, Michael Davis, Oct. 18, 2007; one sister, Echobeth Jacobson and her husband Virgil Jacobson; one sister-in-law Nancy Wessels and her husband DuWayne Wessels; two brothers-in-law, Dr. Patrick Keefe and his wife Rosemary Keefe and Tommy Keefe; and by Joe’s parents, Thomas and Mary Keefe.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to St. Benedict Church Capital Campaign, 307 W. Main Street, Decorah, IA 52101 or Aase Haugen Senior Services, 4 Ohio Street, Decorah, IA 52101.