Delbert D. Keene

Delbert D. Keene, age 80 of Union, NE passed away on December 2, 2025 at his home with his son DJ by his side.

Delbert was born the 11th child on Sunday, July 1, 1945 in Union, NE at the family home on Rock Street; the son of Otis Arthur and Lena G. (Rakes) Keene.

Delbert attended Union grade school but graduated from Nehawka High School in 1963.

He worked as a carpenter with Ed Janssen around the Union area, until he enlisted into the Navy in 1965, where he served as an Interior Communication 3rd Class.  He first served on the USS Yorktown and finished on the USS Intrepid.  After he returned home from the navy, he went back to carpentry and framing houses in the Capehart area in Bellevue, NE.  Then he changed careers to a Boiler Engineer and worked for the Methodist Hospital and the City of Omaha.  He later got a job with Ruan Leasing in Omaha and transferred to Baltic, SD and then Faribault, MN where he was a Shop Manager for 12 years.  Delbert returned to his home town and got a job at Ampel in Weeping Water for three years, and then went to work for Werner Enterprises in Omaha, installing Qualcomm Satellite Systems in semis.  He continued with them for 15 years and retired in 2007.

After retiring he enjoyed barbecuing, woodworking especially making birdhouses, doorknockers and toys of all kinds.  Delbert enjoyed gardening, mowing and fixing things that were broke and making them work again!.  He also loved having coffee with his brothers, Glen and Lonnie every morning when they showed up and anyone else who came, like his extended brothers and lifelong friends Wayne and Lindsay Clark.  He also enjoyed frequent visits from his longtime friend Junior Nixon.  Delbert made sure he called his sister, Nola everyday and sometimes two to three times a day.  If you needed him, he would drop what he was doing and come to help you.  He loved having zoom bible study with family and friends, even when he was near the end of life he wanted to get on zoom for bible study but wasn’t able to do so.  He enjoyed Nebraska Football and Volleyball and programs that gave him ideas of things to build.  He was an avid ham radio operator with the call letters KJOZ.  He was a member of the Union American Legion for over 50 years.  Delbert did not like to be out after dark.  He was a quiet soul.

He was preceded in death by his parents Otis (1949) and Lena (1984); brothers:  Lamar (1982), Meredith “Mer” (2005), Ivan (1994), Leo (2020), Glen (2025); sisters:  Virginia “Ginny” (2012), Ardith “Ardy” (2010), twins Letha and Lena (1936) and Bonnie (1989).

Delbert is survived by his son Delbert Lamar “DJ” of Union, NE and daughter Carmen Jean Keene of Sioux Falls, SD; sister Nola Grunwald of Union, NE; brother Lonnie Keene (Sandy) of Union, NE and sister-in-law Sally Keene of Bellevue, NE; many nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.

Delbert so loved his family and friends and the Lord Jesus Christ our Father in heaven.  Delbert will see us all again in his heavenly home.  Rest in peace.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Union American Legion Hall in Union, NE with Military Honors by the United State Navy Funeral Honors Detail.

A luncheon will follow.  Burial of cremains will be at the Lewiston Cemetery, southeast of Murray or northeast of Union.

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