Paul Keiner

Date of Birth

Dec 16,1932

Date of Death

Nov 03,2017

Paul Keiner, age 84, of Elburn, formerly of Naperville, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love and prayers of his family, on Friday, November 3, 2017.
He was born on December 16, 1932, to proud parents Adam and Mildred (Dietsch) Keiner, in Aurora, IL.
Paul spent his childhood making memories on the streets in Naperville, while attending local schools including S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic School and Naperville Central High School. Paul spent his childhood learning the cobbler trade alongside his father at Keiner Shoe Service. He also worked as a farm hand in Batavia on the Meisch Farm which set up a lifelong friendship with the Meisch family. Overtime that friendship turned into a familial bond, one that would never be broken.
Paul answered the call of his country by enlisting into the United States Navy on March 28, 1950. He served overseas during the Korean Conflict on both the U.S.S. Alcor and the U.S.S. Hoist. Paul was a salvage diver and eventually rose to the rank of Engineman Second Class. Upon his honorable discharge on December 2, 1953, Paul returned to civilian life in Naperville where he worked as a mechanic for Electro-motive in LaGrange as well as for Holstein Brothers. Paul also worked for Material Service for a time. For the next 30 years, he worked as Chief Mechanic and Shop Forman for Messmer Trucking/Kocurek Concrete/Mill-Ron Trucking. At long last, Paul laid down his tools, retiring on December 16, 1994.
Paul literally fell in love with the “girl next door”. Kathleen Fraley and Paul were neighbors from birth, but it wasn’t until Paul returned from the service that they traded a history of friendship, for a lifetime of love. They were united in marriage on February 11, 1956 at the House of God at Mooseheart. Paul and Kay began their new life together back in their hometown of Naperville until 1972 when he built a house in Elburn. There, countless memories were made and still reside, echoing through the years as well as the timbers he laid by hand.
Paul was a lifetime member of the Naperville Moose, a 61 year member of Local #150 and a proud member of both the Elburn American Legion and the Elmhurst VFW. The Northern Illinois Steam Power Club also counted him as a member as well as Antique Motorcycle Association. Paul also spent many hours at the St. Charles Sportsmen Club. He was a faithful member of S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, St. Gall Catholic Church and most recently at S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Virgil, IL.
Paul and Kay were so close, they manufactured their own language, one they used most often in the presence of their children. His true gift was that he could figure out how anything worked and then know how to fix it. He was an accomplished and well known Master Mechanic and Machinist. His enthusians for motorcycles was unparalleled. At one point he had up to 18 Indian motorcycles in his collection, from complete “race ready” restorations to completely in pieces. Paul was the original “McGyver” and could take a scrap heap of steel and build whatever his heart desired. The expression, “You can do anything you put your mind to”, was Paul’s way of life. He never hired anyone to do what he could do himself, and he could do just almost anything. From houses to steam engines, bulldozers to semi-trucks, soap box derby cars and motorcycles, Paul built them all. He taught his family appreciation for good friends and family, creating memories in the outdoors, from the lakes in Northern Wisconsin to the traditional Thanksgiving Day Pheasant Hunt. Paul and Kay and their farmer friends played poker any and every chance they could, probably trading the same money back and forth for forty-plus years. Paul kept his childhood friends throughout his life and one of the most notable activities was their annual costume Halloween Parties at the Moose. After retirement, Paul spent many days horsing around with his pal Ed Weisbrock and his neighbor Ray Petitjean. His great loves remain his family, friends and especially his grandchildren. He loved to tell them a host of stories, sometimes ad nauseum, much to the chagrin of the rest of the family. His favorite expression was “to have fun while you’re young”. At our final parting, we share another of his expressions, one that was always said from the heart. Rest well Paul and “come good home.”
He is survived by his loving wife Kathleen “Kay” Keiner of 61 years; three children: Paula Keiner, Dave (Kathy) Keiner and Chris Keiner; six grandchildren: Dan, Marie, Jacob, Emily, Alison and Adam Keiner; one sister: Dolly Arthur; two sisters-in-law, Mary Fraley and Char Parrilli; one brother-in-law, Guy (Char) Fraley and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Mildred Keiner; mother and father-in-law, Ralph and Virginia Goodwin; one sister, Margaret Saunders; one sister-in-law, Virginia Fiene; one brother-in-law, Timothy Parrilli and three nieces: Kathleen Parrilli, Jennifer Weber and Cali Taber.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., with Rosary to begin at 7:45 p.m. Friday, November 10, 2017 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. There will also be visitation from 9-9:45 a.m., with a mass to follow at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017, at S.S Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Virgil. Fr. Perfecto Vasquez, pastor of the church, will officiate. A luncheon to share memories will follow mass with interment to follow at Naperville Cemetery, Naperville, IL.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Paul’s name to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. Checks may be made to the “Paul Keiner Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page, or at www.conleycare.com where you can see his full life story.

with a mass to follow at 10 a.m., Saturday, November 11, 2017, at S.S Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Virgil. Fr. Perfecto Vasquez, pastor of the church, will officiate.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m., with Rosary to begin at 7:45 p.m. Friday, November 10, 2017 at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. There will also be visitation from 9-9:45 a.m. at S.S. Peter and Paul Church in Virgil.

interment to follow after luncheon at Naperville Cemetery, Naperville, IL.

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