Edna Mae Keckler

Edna Mae Keckler, 92, of Rockford died Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Park Strathmoor Nursing Home. Born March 18, 1921 to Hannibal and Julia (Nolan) Messer. Graduated from Mt. Morris High School in 1939 and then attended Sterling Business School and started her Secretarial career at Kable Brothers in Mt. Morris, IL. Married Clarence Samuel Keckler on October 16, 1948 in Mt. Morris and moved to Rockford where she has resided for over 60 years in the same home. She worked at Royal Typewriter in Rockford, then became a homemaker raising her two children. In 1974 she returned to work as a Dictaphone transcriber for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company gaining back her secretary skills. She then took a position at the Rockford School of Medicine and then transferring to the University of Illinois, Winnebago County Extension office where she retired in 1999 at the age of 78. Edna Worked as a nursery supervisor at Third Presbyterian Church for several years while calling this her church home for her family. Edna was a life-long member of the Women of the Moose and for many years bowled on a couples and mixed league. The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Alden Park Strathmoor Facility and the many people associated with Edna's care over the past five years and to Leona Frey and Mickey Kirkpatrick who have kept in contact with her and have always been a big support system for Chris and Jodi.
Survivors include her son, Chris Keckler; daughter, Jodine (Paul) Hudson; grandson, Andrew Hudson. Preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clarence "Sam"; brothers, Floyd and Claude Messer and sisters, Ava Harris, Nina Vetrono and Georgia Olsen.
Funeral service Saturday, December 28 at 10 a.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel 1860 S. Mulford Rd. with Rev. Randy Young officiating. Visitation Saturday from 9 a.m. until time of service at 10 a.m. Private burial will be held that afternoon in Franklin Grove Cemetery, Franklin Grove, IL. Edna was and avid reader and to honor this in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Rockford Public Library.