Mrs. Keller, age 78, of Lake Worth, Florida and Bakersville, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on January 8, 2011 in Spruce Pine, NC with her oldest son James Keller at her bedside.
She was born on April 4, 1932 in Oregon, Wisconsin to the late Mr. Ivan Julius Rasmussen and the late Mrs. Myrtle Irene (nee Larson) Rasmussen. Calla was the sixth of ten children including Harrell Rasmussen (deceased), Faye Schneider (deceased), Phyllis Staley (deceased), Curtis Rasmussen (deceased), Neil Rasmussen of Lake Clark Shores, FL, Roger Rasmussen of Virginia, Joyce Rasmussen (deceased), Mickey Parisi of Minnesota, and Karla Eash of Washington.
Calla moved to Florida with her family in 1945 and they settled in Lake Worth. 1950 was one of the best years of her life when she graduated from Lake Worth High School, married the love of her life, and began her family with the birth of the first of six children.
Mrs. Keller was preceded in death by her late husband, James L. Keller, on January 11, 1992, and her youngest daughter, Bernadine Ann Keller, on January 17 1958.
Mrs. Keller is survived by five children, 16 grand children and 10 great grandchildren with two more on the way. Her surviving five children include Joan (Donald) Deakin of The Villages, FL; Linda (James) Kirk of Royal Palm Beach, FL; James (Marie) Keller of Bakersville, NC; Brian Keller of Lake Worth, FL; and Curtis (Linda) Keller of High Springs, FL. Mrs. Keller’s 16 grandchildren include Denise (Deakin) Fagan, Heather (Deakin) Latko, Cynthia (Deakin) Gonzalez, Donald Deakin Jr, James Kirk Jr, Kelly Kirk, Lynsey Kirk, James Keller III, Kimberley (Keller) Mueller, Keri Keller, Lee (Keller) Padro, Carla (Keller) Pettit, Laura Keller, Brian Keller II, Casey Keller, and Matthew Keller.
Although Mrs. Keller devoted her life to the loving care and raising of her family on 2nd Avenue just west of Lake Worth next to what is now known as the Keller Canal, she and her husband, Jim, operated numerous businesses in the area, including Keller’s Dairy on the property around Lake Osborne that eventually was sold and became Palm Beach Community College; Ernest-James Truss Manufacturing in Lake Park, FL, and the Boynton Beach Shopper. She and Jim also started and operated the Mustangs Square Dancing club on property which later became the First United Methodist Church located at the intersection of Military Trail and Purdy Lane. Individually, Calla was well known for her work with ceramics and started groups in Lake Worth and The Villages, FL.
Friends may visit from 12 Noon to 1:00 PM on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at Mizell-Faville-Zern Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 6411 Parker Ave., West Palm Beach, FL. A celebration of Calla’s life will be held beginning at 1:00 PM that same day at the funeral home. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park, West Palm Beach, FL. Donations may be made to any Alzheimers organization in loving memory of Calla M. Keller.
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