Keith Arthur Ballhagen's Obituary
Keith Arthur Ballhagen, son of Arthur Emil and Dorothy Mae Shadman Ballhagen, was born October 10, 1934, in Charles City Township, Iowa. He departed this life Friday, October 26, 2007 in his home near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-three years, and sixteen days. On June 28, 1959, he was united in marriage to Nancy Lee Bretz, and to this union two sons were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, an infant, June Mary, Dolores Ellene Adelmund, and Blanche Constance Thomas. Keith is survived by his wife, Nancy, of the home; two sons, Richard and Mitchell Ballhagen, both of Lebanon, Missouri; four granddaughters, Tiffany, Janelle, Haley, and Emmeligh Ballhagen; one step-granddaughter, Christy, of Springfield, Missouri; two great-granddaughters of Lebanon, Missouri; a sister, Joyce Chadwick, of Mesa, Arizona; a nephew, Jerry Chadwick, and his wife, Kirby, of Queen Creek, Arizona; five nieces, Michelle Chadwick, of Lakeside, Arizona, Mary Aldridge, and her husband, Robert, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Paula Tilton and Debra McCoy, both of San Bernadino, California, and Deliah Cleary, and her husband, James, of 29 Palms, California, several nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. He was born and raised in Charles City, Iowa. At the age of sixteen years, he and his mother moved to California. He later met and married Nancy there. He worked for Buzza Cardozo greeting card company for several years; then in 1972, he and Nancy started their own wood-working business. The couple made and sold dollhouse miniatures throughout the United States and England. During that time they were able to visit forty-five states. While on one of their trips they visited the Lebanon area and decided to move here. In 1991 they opened their Jigsaw puzzle store and he retired from that business in 2003. Keith had many interests, including airplanes of the World War II era, trains in general, and had a HO train set-up at one time, older country music, and the Oliver tractor as it was made in his home town in Iowa. He especially loved old cars and was the owner of several. One of the last cars was a 1954 Ford pickup which he had purchased in Lebanon. He also was a self-taught computer whiz and was frequently called upon for help by his friends. Keith was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and his accomplishments and will treasure the memories he made for his family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 30, 2007, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Lebanon. Burial will be in Mount Rose Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 7 - 8:30 p.m. under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Lebanon, Missouri. Memorials to the Sleeper Volunteer Fire Department may be made through the funeral home.
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