Our family said goodbye to our father Warren Keller Sr. on Feb. 9, 2022. He had just celebrated his 90th birthday with his family at the Lodge Assisted Living in Coeur d’Alene where he resided until his passing.

Born on Jan. 27, 1932, in Scottsbluff, Neb., he was the first-born son to his parents, Lewis and Goldie Keller. The Kellers raised their family of five boys in the Scottsbluff area, growing up on the family dairy farm. At some time in the 1940s his parents moved the family to southern California, where he attended school until the ninth grade. He was enrolled in the Future Farmers of America and worked on local farms in southern California. It was there in California where he would meet his future wife, Pauline, as childhood friends.

In 1952, Warren enlisted in the United States Army along with his brother, Donald. Warren received his basic training at Fort Ord, Calif., and Infantry training at Fort Benning, Ga., where he completed his Basic Airborne training and was certified as a paratrooper. He was deployed to active combat in Korea until the conflict ended in 1953, then served in Japan. After his tour ended, he served in the Army Reserves until his honorable discharge in 1960.

He returned to his home in California and married his childhood friend and sweetheart, Pauline Conklin, at The Nazarene Church in Costa Mesa, Calif., in 1955. Together they raised five children, living in Garden Grove and Santa Ana, Calif., before moving to Post Falls in 1973. They were lured by good friends, fresh air and the beauty of North Idaho where he could also enjoy the outdoors, fishing and hunting.

He began his lifelong career in the lumber industry with the Santa Ana Lumber Company, then later with Diamond International in Post Falls. He worked in the shipping department as both a forklift operator and truck driver until he retired in 1995. He was valued as an outstanding employee for his devotion to his job and the companies he worked for.

After his retirement, Warren and Pauline enjoyed traveling around the country in their fifth wheel. They soon became snowbirds to Arizona in the winter months where they met many new friends.

They were members of the Coeur d’Alene Church of the Nazarene since 1973. Warren and Pauline celebrated their 50th anniversary with a renewing of their vows in the presence of family and friends. They were married for 62 years. After the passing of his wife, Pauline, in 2017 he moved to Bestland Retirement home for a year. Warren moved into the Lodge Assisted Living in 2018. His joy was to spend time tending to the flower gardens.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline, father Lewis and mother Goldie Keller, brothers: Donald, Eugene, Lewis Jr. and Bruce Keller.

He is survived by four generations of family including his children: Marsha Jacobs of Hayden, Donald (and Nina) Conklin of Hayden, Jonathan Douglas (and Monica) Keller of Casa Grande, Ariz, Debbie (and Curtis) Clark of Dalton Gardens, Warren Jr. (Kelly) (and Caroline) Keller of Hayden. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Eileen Keller of Suffolk, Va., as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial Services will be held at 2 pm, Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at the Yates Funeral Home and Gathering Center, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, Idaho. Please visit Warren’s online memorial at yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign his guest book.

Our family would like to say “Thank you” to all of the special caregivers and staff who were with him during the past few years. We know you worked endlessly to care for him. We hope he made you laugh and his memory will be one you will cherish. We will be forever grateful.