Donald Keller

Donald Carl Keller, 62, of Jackson passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Oct. 20, 1949, in Hayti, Mo., to Rex and Mabel Phillips Keller. He and Grace Moll were married March 31, 1979, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. Their union was blessed with two wonderful children, Brian and Laura.

Don was a 1967 graduate of Richland High School near Dexter, Mo. He earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Mo. He made his career as a computer software architect. His employment included Missouri-Pacific Railroad, Tandem Computers, Compaq Computers and currently Hewlett-Packard.

He was "all about" his children, their school assignments and projects, science fairs and church activities. He especially enjoyed their computer projects and loved that he could help them excel in his area of expertise.

He had a special appreciation of nature, trees and woodworking, and is affectionately remembered as the "eternal optimist" of the family, always willing to be positive and challenging others to do the same. He was anxiously awaiting the arrival of his first grandchild, a baby girl, in February.

The Kellers are members of Hanover Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

Don's surviving family includes his beloved wife of nearly 33 years, Grace of Jackson; two children, Brian (Katie) Keller of the Chicago area and Laura Keller of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Shirley (Roger) Triplett of Dexter; two brothers, Rex (Donna) Keller Jr. of Dexter and Kenneth (Marsha) Keller of Dexter; his father-in-law, Edgar (the late Helen) Moll of Jackson; a brother-in-law, Glenn (Karen) Moll of Jasper, Mo.; and a sister-in-law, Wanda (Mark) Aufdenberg of Gordonville.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Anthony Kobak officiating. Interment will be in Hanover Lutheran Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials are suggested to Hanover Lutheran Church or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.