Clifford Warren Keller, 89, passed away on July 6, 2014, at St. Marys Hospital, Rochester, Minn.

Clifford  was born May 27, 1925, in Sargeant, Minn. He was the fifth son born to Cloyd and Marcella Keller. Cliff attended grade school in Hayfield and Lansing, Minn., and High School in Mantorville, Minn. He was active in sports, excelling in football and baseball.

In 1944, Cliff moved to Austin, Minn., where he was employed by the George A. Hormel Company. He joined the U.S. Navy, but his service was cut short because of illness. While in Austin, he met his bride to be, Charlotte (Chuck) Jennings. They were married on Oct. 20, 1945, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Austin. He continued to work for the Hormel Co. in the transportation department driving one of the “white Hormel trucks” so well known at that time and proudly delivering the Hormel products. In time the Hormel Company chose to take the white trucks off the road. Cliff transferred to the shipping department; he remained there until he retired in 1982. He then became interested in real estate and was a realtor for 12 years.

Everyone who knew Cliff knew of his love for gardening and lawn work. He particularly enjoyed starting his garden early, planting the seeds in late March indoors, giving his home-grown tomato plants to his family and friends. He was a sports enthusiast, playing golf with friends as often as possible. For many years Cliff enjoyed hunting pheasants, wild turkey, deer, ducks and occasionally elk. He also loved to fish.

Cliff was a member of the First Baptist Church and served as trustee and deacon for a number of years. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ralph, Lynn, Howard, Harold, Maynard; and sister Merle.

Cliff is survived by his beloved wife, Charlotte (Chuck) Keller, Austin, Minn.; sons and daughters-in-law Keith W. Keller, Lavallette, N.J., Tim (Viv) Keller, St. Cloud, Minn., Tom (Lynn) Keller, Oshkosh, Wis., Kevin (Julie) Keller, Wausau, Wis., Colin (Vanessa) Keller, Wayzata, Minn.; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, John Keller, Eugene, Ore.; sister, Florence Ohm, Austin, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Eileen Keller Roper, Austin, Minn., Betty Keller, Austin, Minn., Norma Keller, Austin, Minn.; nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2014, at the Grace Baptist Church, West Campus, 1700 West Oakland Avenue, with Pastor Brett Williams officiating. Visitation will be at the Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Thursday morning for one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to The Wounded Warrior Project, woundedwarriorproject.org, or the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org.

The family would like to thank the staff of St. Mary’s Hospital, Rochester, for their care and kindness.