Edwin (Ned) Richard Keiser
October 11, 1925 - October 23, 2023
Edwin Keiser was born in DuBoistown, PA, to William and Nina (Dunlap) Keiser on October 11, 1925. His brothers were LaMont and William Keiser, and his sister was Rae Keiser Spath. Ned graduated from South Williamsport High School in 1943 and joined the US Airforce on his 18th birthday. In WWII, he served as Technical Sergeant in the 783rd Bomb Squadron as navigator/gunner on a B24, stationed in Italy. His crew flew bombing missions over Nazi targets in Germany and Austria. After the war, Ned graduated from Bloomsburg College with a degree as a business teacher, and then moved to Nebraska. He was a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent of the Rising City Schools and earned his master’s degree in school administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. His hobbies included gardening, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and attending sporting events. Marjorie Doris (Schmid) Keiser
October 4, 1925-September 2, 2021
Marjorie Keiser, only child of Oscar and Marguerite (Fyfe) Schmid, was born October 4, 1925. She grew up on the family farm and attended Centennial School and Rising City High School. After graduation in 1943, she started teaching (at age 17) in a one room school and attended the University of Nebraska. Along with rural K-8 schools, Marjorie taught in the Columbus, NE, and Rising City Schools. She was honored by the Omaha World-Herald as an Outstanding Teacher. Marjorie enjoyed playing the piano, decorating cakes, owning 2000 cookbooks, and collecting salt and pepper shakers. In over 80 years, she collected more than 10,000 pairs of shakers and was featured on CBS Sunday Morning, the ABC Evening News, and NBC Nightly News, and many collecting journals. Ned and Marjorie were married on June 16, 1952, in Rising City. They built a new home in Omaha in 1957. Ned taught at Omaha Benson High School from 1957 to 1973 and was Practical Arts Curriculum Specialist at Omaha Northwest from 1973 to 1990. He was inducted into the Northwest Hall of Fame. The Nebraska Schools Athletic Association honored him for his work as treasurer of the state track meet and other events. Ned also ran the scoreboard at the College World Series for decades. He and Marjorie worked as loan officers at Educators Credit Union. The Keisers were very involved in church and community leadership, including Sunday School teaching, church council, Boy and Girl Scout leaders, band supporters, elections commission, and several charity endeavors. Ned and Marjorie loved to travel in their motorhome. They visited all the continental United States and all the provinces of Canada. They traveled with the Novelty Salt and Pepper Shaker Club to England and around the country, where Marjorie won many prizes for her shaker displays. Their favorite travels were going to share in the many milestones and events of their family, and the visits of their grandchildren to Omaha were equally treasured. The cornerstone of their lives was nurturing and supporting their family. Their children are Kay Anne Keiser of Omaha and Douglas Richard (Brenda) Keiser of Terre Haute, IN. Grandchildren are Andrew (Elaine) Keiser, Evan Keiser (Julie Vaughan), and Allison Keiser (Josh Everetts). The Keisers were happily married for 69 years. Marjorie passed away at home on September 2, 2021, and on October 23. 2023, Ned joined her. Private graveside service for family is at Circle Mound Cemetery, Rising City. Celebration of Life to be held Saturday (May 11th, 2024) at 11 AM with visitation 1 hour prior at 10 AM to honor their lives.
