Joe graduated from Malvern High School where he was a celebrated left handed quarterback. In 1939 he attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana until he dropped out to join the army. In the army he was a member of the 101st Airborne Division (the Screaming Eagles), 502nd Parachute Regiment, and 1st Battalion Easy Company. General Dwight Eisenhower personally presented him with a distinguished service medal for his courage and valor in the Battle of the Bulge. After his honorable discharge he enrolled in the Petroleum Engineering program at Ohio State University and played clarinet in the Buckeye Marching Band. He graduated from O.S. in 1947 with a degree in Geophysics.
Joseph began a thirty two year career with Phillips Petroleum and moved to West Texas with the first love of his life, Ruth Koehler. They were married until her death on July 20, 1999.
In his early career Joe and Ruth moved fifteen times including multiple moves to Borger, Texas, Brownfield, Texas, Ft. Stockton, Texas, Houston, Texas, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and four times to Midland, Texas where Joe and Ruth raised three sons Bill, John, and Rob.
After his retirement from Philips in 1978, Joe Keffler opened his own oil exploration company and worked as an oil exploration consultant until he closed his office in 2011.
Joe met the second love of his life, Jo Francis and they married in 2003.
A lifelong Catholic, Joe was active in Knights of Columbus and the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was a Scout Leader and Little League Coach.
In addition to his brother David and his beloved wife Jo, Joe Keffler is survived by children and their spouses, Bill and Chrissie Keffler, John and Donna Keffler, and Rob and Louise Keffler; step children and their spouses, Kenneth and Judy Terry, Susan and Tom Hatfield, and Sharon Roberts; grandchildren, Abby, Joey, Sam, Ellie, Will, Jeffrey, Louie, Natalie, Nancy, Martha, Matthew, Jack, Michelle, Kimberly, Heather, Michael, Justin, Robin, Ben, and Adam; grand in laws include Shane, Hunter, Paxton, Andi, Stephanie, Mark, Darin, Jane, and Nicole; and great grandchildren, Libby, Keagan, Kristen, Elizabella, Lizzie, Madison, Jack Henry, George, Peter, Lucy, Angeline, Matthew , Jordan, Joshua , Issabella, Vyden, Kaelyn, Macon, Chapman, Eleanor, and Celilia.
A visitation will be held at 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Ellis Funeral Home, a rosary will be conducted during the visitation hours at 7:00p.m. at Ellis Funeral Home Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 10:00a.m. Monday, July 28, 2014 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church.
Online condolences may be offered at www.ellisfunerals.com
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