Rev. John James Keefe
Deceased: 2023-10-11
Diocese: LINCOLN
ICTE Fall: 2008
The Reverend John J. Keefe, lovingly known to some as Padre Juan, gently crossed over to his eternal reward at the age of 82 on October the 11th, 2023. Father Keefe was born to John J. and Margaret Keefe in David City, Nebraska on September 2, 1941, just a few months before the United States entered WWII. As a result, his father enlisted in the army and young John spent his first few years living with his mother and a friend of hers in David City. Shortly after the war, the family reunited and moved to Lincoln, where Father Keefe attended St. Mary’s school through the 9th grade.
When Pius X High School opened its doors on Oct. 1, 1956, Father Keefe was part of the first Sophomore class and graduated in 1959. He followed in his father’s footsteps by attending Creighton University, from which he received a BA in 1963. Shortly after entering Creighton Law School the following year, Father Keefe became very ill with what was thought to be a bad case of the flu that lasted several weeks. When his parents with 2 of his younger siblings picked him up for the Christmas Break, he remained doubled over in pain in the back seat of their car all the way home from Omaha. Father Keefe was taken immediately to see the family doctor, who had him transferred via ambulance to St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was diagnosed with type I diabetes. This disease was an ever-present consideration and influenced the course of his life, as it was at this time that he made the decision to enter the seminary.
John attended St. Thomas seminary in Denver, Colorado. Beginning on June 14, 1967, he served as a deacon at St. Mary’s Church in Lincoln, and in 1968 Father Keefe was ordained at The Cathedral of the Risen Christ. He served first as assistant pastor at St. John the Baptist in Plattsmouth from 1968-1970 and then in several parishes throughout Nebraska, including Cathedral of the Risen Christ from 1970-73 and Blessed Sacrament in Lincoln from 1973-77. In 1977, Father became Pastor of the church of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Rulo. But this first appointment as Pastor would be short-lived as Father was appointed to a Lincoln mission in Barquisimeto, Venezuela that lasted from 1977-1984.
Upon the death of Padre Juan’s father in 1983, he returned to Lincoln for the funeral and was subsequently assigned as pastor at St. John the Baptist in Prague, Nebraska. Father John remained in Prague until 1990 when he was assigned as Pastor at St. Patrick’s Church in Lincoln. Here he remained until 1994 when he once again went to work with the poor in Venezuela. Father Keefe truly loved the work he did in Venezuela and was able to work in this mission until 1997. At that time he was called back to Nebraska and asked to serve as Pastor at St. Mary’s in Aurora. In 2001, John was appointed Apostolate to the Spanish Speaking in the Diocese of Lincoln and in 2002 became Pastor at Cristo Rey in Lincoln. It was at Cristo Rey in 2008 that he performed the funeral mass for his mother. In June of 2011, Father was assigned as Senior Priest in Residence at St. James Parish in Crete.
Father Keefe lived the last few years of his life at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. During the pandemic he and his siblings began a weekly Zoom call. It was a way for all of us to stay in touch, but it was especially a way for us to see John. Last year at Christmas time, he was given a 2023 calendar of puns. If you knew John at all, you knew that he loved puns. This past year, each family Zoom would begin with John reading the previous week’s puns followed by the rest of his family groaning appropriately.
Father John is preceded in death by his parents. He leaves behind many who loved him including his sister Pat Freund and his four brothers and their spouses-Dennis (Patty Warner), Tom (Kay), Terry (Jeanine Jewell), and Mike (Liz). In addition, his nieces and nephews include Paul Freund, Michael Freund, Rachel Freund, and James Freund all of Seattle, Molly Keefe (Garrick Noonan) and Daniel Keefe of Lincoln, Andrew Keefe (Rebecca Keefe) of Mansfield Texas, and Margaret Keefe (Patrick Andrews) of Tacoma. His grand nieces and nephews include Andrea Keefe and Brenna Keefe of Mansfield Texas, Dennis Keefe, Vincent Keefe, Emilynn Noonan, and Declan Noonan all of Lincoln, all of whom will miss his kind words and corny sense of humor.
Visitation will be from 1-7 on Thursday, November 2nd, followed by a rosary at 7. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at The Cathedral of the Risen Christ in Lincoln at 11 a.m. on November 3rd. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider donations to Cristo Rey Church and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
