Home > United States of America > Kansas > Atchison County > Atchison > Saint Benedicts Abbey Cemetery > Fr Hugh L. Keefer

Fr Hugh L. Keefer

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Birth	:	21 Jul 1927 Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	1 Jun 2011 Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Saint Benedicts Abbey Cemetery, Atchison, Atchison County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.5770645, -95.1098862
Description	:	Father Hugh Keefer, O.S.B. 83, born as Lewis Keefer on July 21, 1927 in Topeka, the son of Sam and Sadie (Williams) Keefer, died on the morning of Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Fr. Keefer is survived by his brothers in the monastic life, and a brother, Robert (Lila) Keefer of Wichita and nephews, Ken Keefer , St. Joseph, MO, Kevin Keefer, Pasadena, CA,; Richard (Marilyn) Keck, Lathrop, MO, nieces: Kristin (Doug)Shaffer and sons Sam and Ben; Carol Keefer, Denver, CO,; Teresa Thomas, Jackson, WY, Mary Ann Keefer; Miramar Beach, FL. Father Hugh was preceded in death by his parents Sam and... Read More	Father Hugh Keefer, O.S.B. 83, born as Lewis Keefer on July 21, 1927 in Topeka, the son of Sam and Sadie (Williams) Keefer, died on the morning of Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Fr. Keefer is survived by his brothers in the monastic life, and a brother, Robert (Lila) Keefer of Wichita and nephews, Ken Keefer , St. Joseph, MO, Kevin Keefer, Pasadena, CA,; Richard (Marilyn) Keck, Lathrop, MO, nieces: Kristin (Doug)Shaffer and sons Sam and Ben; Carol Keefer, Denver, CO,; Teresa Thomas, Jackson, WY, Mary Ann Keefer; Miramar Beach, FL. Father Hugh was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Sadie Keefer, brother George Keefer and sisters-in-law Shirley Keefer and Doris Keefer. After graduating from Emporia High School in 1944, Father Hugh enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia (now Emporia State University), receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, and a Bachelor of Science in Education in May 1949. The next years brought experience teaching high school in Columbus, Kansas, working for the Army Engineer Corps in Anchorage, Alaska, and in 1951, finishing a Masters of Arts in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. The 1950s brought valuable experience for Father Hugh. He worked for the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland; and as a Math teacher at Shawnee Mission High School in Kansas; and as a computer programmer for Babcock & Wilcox in Lynchburg, VA. In these years, Father Hugh, a convert to the Catholic faith, began to look into the monastic life, visiting the Benedictines at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, PA, and for a short time was a novice with the Trappists in Virginia. Just prior to coming to St. Benedict's Abbey, in the 1960-1961 academic year, he took courses at The American University and Georgetown University. On July 11, 1963 Father Hugh professed his simple vows as a monk of the Abbey. After completing studies in philosophy and theology, Father Hugh was ordained to the priesthood on June 2, 1967 in the Abbey Church. Abbot Thomas recognized his talent and asked him to join the first Master of Business Administration class at the University of Notre Dame. He completed the MBA in 1969. In the 1970s Father Hugh served as Controller of St. Benedict's College and the newly merged Benedictine College, as well as from 1976-1979 serving as Business Manager and Controller. During these years he also served as the chaplain of the St. Benedict's College Council #4708 of the Knights of Columbus. Under his leadership, the college Knights were voted four times as the college Knights Council of the year for the entire United States. In the 1980s he worked as Computer Programmer for Maur Hill Prep, Atchison, and then began to work as the Assistant Business Manager of the Abbey, serving faithfully under Father Hilary Heim, OSB, and until recently under Father Maurice Haefling, OSB. His gifts were also used by St. Martin's University, a Benedictine University in Lacey, Wash., where he served as Controller from 1986-1987, and later, in 1990, by the International Benedictine house of Sant'Anselmo in Rome where he served to update the accounting method there. In the early 90s Father Hugh experienced a personal difficulty which brought him to a 12-step program. While he had certainly proved that he had a tremendous intellectual capacity, what began to shine forth more and more was his heart. He discovered a gift that he shared with many others in their lives, and their recoveries. His homilies, to the monks, students and guests at the Abbey Masses, to the sisters at the Mount, and to the basketball team at Benedictine College for which he served as chaplain, all came from a heart that had been changed. As one BC basketball player who went on to be a FOCUS missionary wrote: I loved Father Hugh and his presence as our team chaplain. He was a great witness of humility and faith. He will be in my prayers. Services to be held on Monday, June 06, 2011 \| 10:30 am at St. Benedict's Abbey, with interment following in the Abbey Cemetery.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Fr Hugh L. Keefer's memorial?
Fr Hugh L. Keefer's memorial is located at: Saint Benedicts Abbey Cemetery, Atchison, Atchison County, USA.
When did Fr Hugh L. Keefer death?
Fr Hugh L. Keefer death on 1 Jun 2011 in Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Fr Hugh L. Keefer's memorial?
Latitude: 39.5770645
Longitude: -95.1098862

Family Members:

Parent

PFC Samuel Lewis Keefer

(1889 - 1969)

Sadie Ellen Keefer

(1899 - 1992)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Benedicts Abbey Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5770645, -95.1098862

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Coordinate: 39.6241989, -95.1128006

13. Hudspeth Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5682100, -95.0400000

14. Schmidt Graves
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Coordinate: 39.5616330, -95.0416950

15. Gordon Graveyard
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Coordinate: 39.5607400, -95.0352900

16. Myers Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.6369019, -95.1149979

17. Sumner Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.5163994, -95.1081009

18. Cash Cemetery
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20. Allison Homestead Graveyard
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21. Mormon Grove Historical Marker Memorial
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Coordinate: 39.5572319, -95.1985931

22. Doniphan Cemetery
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Coordinate: 39.6478004, -95.0699997

23. Gore Cemetery
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24. Armstrong Cemetery
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