Reverend Elfred Theodore Keller

Reverend E. T. Keller

Reverend Elfred Theodore “E. T.” Keller, 91, of West Salem, died on Thursday, September 6, 2018 at his home in Salem Terrace Assisted Living facility. He was born on October 5, 1926 in Linn, Kansas to Reverend Otto C. J. Keller and Dora C. M. Hornbostel. He graduated from St. Louis Concordia Seminary in 1951 and was ordained and installed into the ministry of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. That same year he married Dorothy (Dot) Hlavacek of Long Island City, New York. Together they served parishes in Richland Center, Boaz and Viola. In 1957, they moved to Pittsville, Wisconsin to serve there as well as Sherwood, Wisconsin for the next 35 years. After retiring in 1991, they moved to Onalaska where he served as Pastor Emeritus at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

E.T. is survived by his children; Michael (Mary) of New York, Keith (Bernie) of Wisconsin, Paul (Beth) of Colorado, Mark (Diane) of Colorado, Kristi of Maryland, five grandchildren , four great-grandchildren and two brothers.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 10 at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Onalaska. Rev. David Baumgarn will officiate. Burial will follow the service at 2:00 p.m. in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Pittsville, Wisconsin. Visitation will be at the church from 8:30 a.m. until the time of service.

The family would like to thank the staff at Salem Terrace of West Salem for their compassionate care of E. T. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethany St. Joseph Corporation of La Crosse or St. John’s Lutheran Church of Pittsville, Wisconsin for the Radio Lutheran Broadcast.

Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of Onalaska is assisting the family with the arrangements.