Keith Jay Neuhalfen
ST. HELENA — Keith Jay Neuhalfen, 89, St. Helena, was surrounded by his loving family when he died from cancer, April 5, 2022.
Mass of Christian Burial was April 9 at Immaculate Conception/Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Helena, with Rev. An Duy Phan officiating. Services were also live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/opsahlkostel/live.
Burial was in the parish cemetery, with Military Graveside Rites by the Wynot American Legion Post #31.
Visitations and a wake service were April 8 at Immaculate Conception/Holy Family Catholic Church, St. Helena. Visitation resumed one hour prior to the service at the church.
The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory, Yankton, S.D., assisted the family with the service details.
Keith was born Dec. 31, 1932, in Hartington, to Emil and Lola (Peck) Neuhalfen. He grew up in Minnesota and Sioux City, Iowa, returning to Hartington, after the death of his father. He graduated from Hartington Public High School in 1951. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1953, and trained at Fort Chaffee in Arkansas. He served in Germany during the Korean War where he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal/Army Occupation Medal (Germany). He returned home in 1955 and married his high school sweetheart, Louise Schulte, St. Helena, Aug. 10, 1955. He and “his bride” lived in Hartington until 1960, and then moved to St. Helena. Keith and “his bride” moved to Walnut Village Assisted Living, Yankton, S.D., about six months ago.
He worked for Hoesing Brothers Construction, Hartington. Here is where he learned the brick laying trade and joined the union. Area buildings he worked on, are Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Sacred Heart Church, Yankton Police Station, Laurel High School, and the Yankton Senior Center. He also worked at the Human Services Center and Neu Pond and Landscaping. He served on Holy Family Parish Council, St. Helena Town Board, and was the recording secretary for Brick Layers Union Local #2. He was an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist with Holy Family Catholic Parish and held a weekly hour of adoration with Louise since its beginning.
Keith was an avid Pittsburgh Steelers and Nebraska Cornhuskers fan. He loved fishing, hunting and anything in nature. He had a beautiful fishpond in his back yard and had made numerous blue bird houses throughout Cedar County in his wood working shop. He was proud of the St. Helena community and was very involved in community events. Family was extremely important to him. He cherished every family gathering where he would pass out the best bear hugs. His wonderful sense of humor always made gatherings fun. In his last days, he proclaimed, “this is the perfect family for me.”
Keith is survived by his wife of 66 years, Louise Neuhalfen, Yankton, S.D.; children, Kirk (Karen) Neuhalfen, Batavia, Ill.; Kevin (Becky) Neuhalfen, Yankton, S.D.; Mark (Cindy) Neuhalfen, Fordyce; Tami (Mick) Wiepen. St. Helena; Todd (Lori) Neuhalfen, Norfolk; Julie Boecker, Hartington; Neal (Jody) Neuhalfen, Crofton; Amy (John) Neu, Yankton, S.D.; 24 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; brother, Dan (Becky) Marshall; sister, Cindy (Rob) Goers; in-laws, Tudy (Don) Thompson, Marge Schulte and Sharon Schulte.
He was proceeded in death by his parents; son, Patrick Neuhalfen; his brother, Paul and Lavonne Neuhalfen; father and mother-in-law, Frank and Frances Schulte; in laws, Roman and Ester Schulte, Ralph Schulte, Cliff and Jeanette Schulte, Sally and Laddie Svatos, Gerald and MaryAnn Schulte, Donald Schulte, Harry and Dodie Schulte.