Melvin Leroy Keepper

Melvin Leroy Keepper departed this life on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 11:42 a.m., at his residence in Decatur, IL. He was born on August 6th, 1924 in Butler, Illinois. He was raised on a rural farm by his parents Edgar and Bessie Keepper, and was the youngest of seven children. In his early years of employment, he was an instrument mechanic for TWA in Kansas City, MO. where he met his first wife, Dorothy. They were married 26 years, moved to Illinois and raised four children, Cinda McCabe (Scott), San Antonio, TX.; Teresa Maple (Rocky), Decatur; Jennifer Keepper, Wheat Ridge, Colorado and Douglas (Sonia), San Antonio, TX. They have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Melvin later married Norma Jean Harshman and they were married 39 years; she preceded him in death in 2012. Melvin shared a close relationship with her children,  Ann Harshman, Decatur, Stephen Harshman (Peggy),  Schaumburg, and three grandchildren.

Melvin retired in 1988 as president from Van Horn Hybrids culminating forty-some years in the agribusiness. He and his wife, Jean, enjoyed entertaining friends and family, traveling, and dancing in their younger years. Their ashes will be interred at a family graveside service in Morrisonville Cemetery.

Teresa and the family wish to express a heartfelt thank you to Tina Clem, and her entire staff, at Lincolnshire Memory Care Center and, finally, to Barb, Mark and Heather at Safe Haven Hospice.

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