Ted G. Keller (88) of Effingham

Ted G. Keller, 88, of Effingham passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2016, at HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham, surrounded by loved ones.

A memorial mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 7 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Private family burial with military salute will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Effingham. Memorials may be made in loving memory of Ted to "Rotary Charities Foundation of Effingham" with designation of the donation to "Casa del Nino;" Rotary Club, P.O. Box 772; Effingham, IL 62401. There will be a Rotary Walkthrough at 10:15am Tuesday, just ahead of the memorial service.

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Ted was born on January 31, 1928, in Decatur, IL, to parents Hubert G. and Beatrice Keller. During his service in the US Air Force he was stationed in various locations throughout the Caribbean including Panama where he met his wife Tina. After his military service, he returned to Illinois where he worked in the family business of furniture and appliances. Throughout his life he was involved in Latin America with various endeavors such as leading tours, operation of a tarpon fishing/hunting camp, production of mahogany lumber, and a business of recruiting for foreign student homestay.

Ted was a lifetime philanthropist and a member of various community service organizations in Effingham. Because of his bilingual skills and military training as a ham radio operator, he helped disaster victims of earthquakes and flooding in Central America. He often gathered and delivered medical supplies for the less fortunate in other countries. Ted was the oldest person in membership and age in the Effingham Rotary Club where he has served for over 55 years. There have been many humanitarian projects, and in 2003 he was honored as Rotarian of the Year by the International Rotary Foundation.

He is survived by his wife Ernestina "Tina" Keller of Effingham; two daughters, Charlene Keller and Jennifer Keller of Houston, TX; one sister, Nancy Lewis of Sandpoint, ID; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Kathleen Bourland; and beloved daughter, Janet Keller.