James Joseph Jim Keilen

James Joseph 'Jim' Keilen March 4, 1937 - December 7, 2013

James Joseph "Jim" Keilen, age 76, of Faribault, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family following an extended illness.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Faribault, with Reverend Dr. Armand J. Boehme, officiating. Interment with military honors will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Memorial visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Tuesday from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesday for one hour prior to the services at the church.

James Joseph Keilen, the son of Joseph John and Marion (Slocum) Keilen, was born on March 4, 1937 in Moland Township, Rice County, MN. He graduated from Montgomery High School in 1955 and shortly after started working at McQuays Inc. in Faribault. In 1956 he joined the U.S. Army, serving with the peace keeping force in Germany. In 1958 he returned to work at McQuays. On September 10, 1960 he married Mavis Lorraine Harbour in Maynard, MN. In 1961 he was recalled to active duty with the 328th Ordnance Co. of Faribault during the Berlin Crisis. Upon discharge he returned to McQuays until 1973, when he and his partner, Bob Kucera, started Faribo Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. He retired in 1995 and moved to Lake Winnibigoshish for 12 years before returning to Faribault. Jim enjoyed winters in Mission, TX and summers in Minnesota for 15 years. He was a longtime active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and also belonged to the Faribault Rotary Club.

Jim''s lifelong passion was fishing and hunting, especially teaching kids to enjoy those sports as much as he did. Following retirement he also enjoyed golf and traveling.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mavis; son, Bill (Peggy) Keilen of Faribault, son, John James (Joyce) Keilen of Garnett, KS, and daughter, Sally (Gene) Bauer of Faribault;

grandchildren, Heather (Dan) Johnson, Holly Keilen (special friend Matt Collins), Billie (Jeff) Thomas, Mike Bauer, Tate Bauer, and Tiffany (Jeremy) Beasley; great grandchildren, Braiden & Kaidence Johnson, and Kendall & Jessica Beasley; great great grandson, Roger Beasley; sister, Kathy Gessner of Janesville, MN; brother-in-law, Robert Christiansen of San Tan Valley, AZ; sister-in-law, Doris (Rich) Smith of Mason City, IA; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; nephew, Timothy Smith; sister-in-law, Beth Christiansen; and brother-in-law, Bill Gessner.