Opa Keel

To all our readers: Liesel's grandfather, Billy "Opa" Keel died this morning from cancer. He died at home, with his wife and daughters-in-law with him.

This picture is from our visit during Christmas 2006 to Jefferson City, Missouri. He was so happy to see Dominic! Too bad Dom didn't feel the same way; he must have been tired and hungry.

(L-R) Opa, Mary Ann, Li'l Opa, Oma, Liesel, Dominic, Fritz, Jesse, Rose, Katie

Opa was a World War II veteran and an Airman, having served in the Army Air Corps. Following high school, he completed Aircraft Maintenance Tech School in Nashville, TN. As a civilian at Eglin Field, FL (now Eglin AFB) he worked on the fleet of B-25 Mitchell's that would be used by General Doolittle and his Raiders to bomb mainland Japan in April 1942. Later, as an enlisted Airman, he volunteered for pilot training. He continued to serve as an aircraft mechanic until receiving an honorable discharge (signed by Gen. Hap Arnold) in January 1946. I know he was proud of his Air Corps service during the war, becuase it was one of the first things he mentioned to me when he found out I was an Air Force officer.

Saturday is a day traditionally honoring Mary, the Mother of God, and so we ask the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, and her spouse St. Joseph, as we pray for the respose of the soul of Billy Keel. We also ask for the prayers of John Paul the Great, our beloved papa, who, like Opa, died at home, with those he loved around him, and on a Saturday.

Ave Maria gratia plena, dominus tecum
benedicta tul in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tuae Iesus.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei
ora pro nobis peccatoribus,
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.

Sancta Maria, Dei Genetrix - ora pro nobis.
Sancte Ioseph - ora pro nobis.
Ioannes Paulus Magnus - ora pro nobis.