Gaynell Marie Keller was born August 7, 1931 at Spencer, Nebraska to Chris and Inez (Carlson) Rockholm and she died October 22, 2024 at the Butte Healthcare Center in Butte, Nebraska at the age of 93 years.

Gaynell graduated valedictorian of her class from Naper High school in 1949.  She received a scholarship to Wayne State College.  Instead of going to college, Gaynell chose marriage, and therefor endorsed her scholarship over to a classmate.  She married Elmer Eugene (Bill) Keller on May 25, 1949.  The couple lived on a farm 4 miles east of Naper in an original sod house for 30 years.  They moved to her parents farm 1 mile north of Naper in 1979 after her parents passed away.  She helped with every aspect of farming from milking, calving, and field work while always having a hot meal to take to the field every noon.

She also had a passion for gardening and spent endless hours weeding, watering and harvesting.  She certainly had a green thumb that produced the biggest and best tomato's in the county.  She was also a talented seamstress sewing the majority of her and her children's clothing.  Gaynell will also be remembered for the beautiful cakes she and her daughter Cindy decorated for weddings, anniversaries, graduations and birthdays.  She was also known to always have a camera in hand and to take a picture or two on any occasion.  She has albums stacked to the ceiling of her closet as a testament to her hobby.

Her children and grandchildren fondly remember her decorated sugar cookies, caramels and divinity at Christmas time, her homemade buns, vegetable soup and her delicious malts.

In the Naper community she was very active in planning and organizing of the yearly Naper High Alumni Banquet and was fortunate enough to be able to attend and celebrate her 70th class reunion.  She belonged to the Naper Community Church and was active in the Ladies Fellowship for numerous years holding every leadership office.

In June of 2021 she moved from the family farm to the Butte Assisted Living and then to the Senior Living in December of 2022 until her passing.

Gaynell is survived by her sons: Randy (Carol) of Naper, NE; Timothy (Rita) of Wayne ,NE; and her daughter Cindy (Ron) Schroetlin of Butte, NE 8 grandchildren , 11 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson, 1 sister-in-law Norma Vanderbeek of Spencer, NE and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Gaynell was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 1989; an infant daughter, Carla and infant brother, Freddie Dale, her parents Christ and Inez; her in-laws Elmer and Nellie (Davis) Keller and a special friend Lester Neumiller in October of 2021.

Funeral services for Gaynell Keller, age 93, of Naper, NE will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 10:30 AM at the Naper Community Church in Naper, NE.  Burial will be in the Knollcrest Cemetery of Naper.  Visitation will 1 hour prior to the service at the Church.