Gerald "Jerry" D. Keating

Gerald D. "Jerry" Keating, 85, Frankfort, died Thursday, December 31, 2020 at the Frankfort Community Care Home. Visitation will be Thursday, January 7, 2021 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Lillis. The rosary vigil will be at 7 p.m. following the visitation. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 8 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Lillis. Father Anthony Chendumalli will officiate. Pallbearers are Jonathan Keating, Chelsea Smith, Chandler Smith, Dan Koch, Matt Koch and Adam Koch. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Jerry was born August 3, 1935 at Frankfort to Frank and Lillian (Hayes) Keating. He graduated from Frankfort High School. On February 16, 1957, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Charbonneau at Concordia. They were blessed with three sons and two daughters. Jerry was a lifelong farmer and rancher near Lillis, Kansas and was actively managing feeder cattle until the last few months of his life. When first married he juggled farming and working for the UP railroad. In 1966 he decided to farm full time and retired from the railroad. When the St. Joseph Church in Lillis closed in 2011, Jerry was instrumental in making sure the church still stands today, to be used for funerals and weddings. In their younger years, Jerry and Carol enjoyed traveling with their brothers/sisters around the U.S. to Ireland, Turkey and other countries. Jerry enjoyed attending his grandchildren's school/sporting events, visiting with family, playing a good game of cards (when winning of course), debating politics and anything that involved cattle/farming. Also, if you didn’t know, red was his favorite color. Jerry was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church for 76 years until it closed and then became a member of Annunciation Catholic Church in Frankfort. He also belonged to the Knights of Columbus, was president of the St. Joseph Cemetery Board, president of St. Joseph Preservation, and a St. Joseph councilman. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carolyn; brothers Francis (Bud) Keating and Patrick Keating; and brother-in-law Wallace Keller. Survivors include his children, Greg Keating, Vermillion, Chris McGehee (Tom), Goddard, Steve (Jodi), Frankfort, David Keating, Frankfort, Susan Koch (Gary), Frankfort; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren; sisters, Louise Keller, Orange, CA and Helen (Ron) Jensen, Tustin, CA; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial fund is established and will be designated later. Contributions may be sent in care of Padden Funeral Chapel. Funeral for Gerald "Jerry" Keating To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald "Jerry" D. Keating, please visit our flower store.