Joseph J. Keefe, age 86, of 303 W. Perry Street, Tiffin, Ohio died at 4:00 A.M. Friday, May 21, 2004 at his residence. He was born on April 20, 1918 to Thomas and Anna (Hoepf) Keefe in Seneca County, Ohio. On October 19, 1946 in St. Joseph Catholic Church he married Marie Elchert. She survives and they had been married for 57 years.
Other survivors include, 5 sons, John (Carol) Keefe; LaVerne (Janet) Keefe; David (Alice) Keefe;Marvin (Theresa) Keefe; and Duane (Deb) Keefe all of Tiffin; 2 daughters, Patricia (Hank) Elchert; and Theresa (Richard) Best both of Tiffin; a Daughter-in-Law, Diana (Toby) Schreiner of Toledo; 25 Grandchildren, 8 Great Grandchildren; 4 sisters, Anna Allen of Bloomville, Jeannette Hoepf, Margaret Parkins, and Louise O’Connor all of Tiffin.
He was preceded in death by a son, Francis Keefe; 3 brothers, James, Thomas, and Jerome Keefe; and 4 sisters, Martha Jankowski, Mary Graham, Agnes Hohman, and Cecilia Schleter.
Mr. Keefe retired from Webster Manufacturing in 1981 after 30 years plus 1 day as a chain assembler. Previously, he had also worked for Baumgardner Building Supply and he drove a truck for France Stone Quarry.
He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Tiffin. He enjoyed coon hunting, woodworking and gardening. He was a great euchre player, story teller and harmonica player. He was a man of strong Catholic faith and practiced good family values.
His nephew, Rev. Edward Schleter, will celebrate the Funeral Mass, with burial to follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, Mercy Hospital, or Calvert High School in care of Traunero Funeral Home, 214 S. Monroe Street, Tiffin, Ohio 44883 (419)-447-3113.