Obituary for B. Keith Bahrenfuss
Benjamin Keith Bahrenfuss, 86, a life-long Webster City resident, died August 19, 2021 at Windsor Manor Assisted Living Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 23, 2021 at Trinity Lutheran Church. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. The service will be a joint funeral with Keith’s spouse Mary, who died on January 14, 2021.
Keith was born May 28, 1935 in Webster City, the son of Benjamin Buryl and Elva Enna (Doolittle) Bahrenfuss. His father was killed in a tragic accident when he was eight months old. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953 and attended Iowa State Teacher’s College where he played football for the Panthers, receiving his BA in 1957 and his MA in 1969.
He married the love of his life, Mary Lou Adams, on June 12, 1955 at the English Lutheran Church in Webster City. The couple resided in Waterloo while he continued his education and played football at ISTC and Mary taught at Elk Run Heights Elementary.
The couple returned to Webster City in 1957 when he began his teaching career as an elementary PE teacher, moving to high school history and then spent the majority of his career instructing high school science courses. He coached football, boys’ basketball and boys’ track at various levels and also served as Athletic Director for 25 years. He retired in 1994.
The couple moved to Windsor Manor in June, 2017 and Keith entered the memory care area of the facility in January, 2021.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Main Street USA and was a member of the Webster City High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Keith and Mary loved to travel in their retirement years, highlighted by going on a balloon ride and Safari in Africa, zip lining in Costa Rica, helicopter rides in Alaska, visiting Machu Picchu, Peru, going on cruises with long-time friends Dick and Joanne Claypool of Marshalltown, trips to Branson and wintering in Arizona for many years. He loved his coffee groups, reading, woodworking, helping his children fix up their homes, attending events of his grandchildren, the Webster City Lynx, the Iowa Hawkeyes, being an election volunteer for Hamilton County and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his sons, Kevin (Trish) Bahrenfuss and Kenton (Diane) Bahrenfuss and daughter-in-law Deb Bahrenfuss all of Webster City; grandchildren Ben, Erin, Cory (Sheryl), Tracy (Kyle), Chad (Becca), Robyn (Dylhan), Kelsey (Caleb), Dalton (Molly), Mari Kait and Madeline; 7 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in January, 2021; son Kyle in 2013; and his five sisters and two brothers and their spouses: Leila (Raymond) Roe; Mae (Elmer) Bruns; Eleanore (Adolph) Schroeder; Jean (Lloyd) Roe; Robert (Margaret) Bahrenfuss; Shirley (Mervin) Mourlam and Lee (Phyllis) Bahrenfuss.
Memorials may be given in Keith’s honor to Trinity Lutheran Church.
Keith was born May 28, 1935 in Webster City, the son of Benjamin Buryl and Elva Enna (Doolittle) Bahrenfuss. His father was killed in a tragic accident when he was eight months old. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1953 and attended Iowa State Teacher’s College where he played football for the Panthers, receiving his BA in 1957 and his MA in 1969.
He married the love of his life, Mary Lou Adams, on June 12, 1955 at the English Lutheran Church in Webster City. The couple resided in Waterloo while he continued his education and played football at ISTC and Mary taught at Elk Run Heights Elementary.
The couple returned to Webster City in 1957 when he began his teaching career as an elementary PE teacher, moving to high school history and then spent the majority of his career instructing high school science courses. He coached football, boys’ basketball and boys’ track at various levels and also served as Athletic Director for 25 years. He retired in 1994.
The couple moved to Windsor Manor in June, 2017 and Keith entered the memory care area of the facility in January, 2021.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Main Street USA and was a member of the Webster City High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
Keith and Mary loved to travel in their retirement years, highlighted by going on a balloon ride and Safari in Africa, zip lining in Costa Rica, helicopter rides in Alaska, visiting Machu Picchu, Peru, going on cruises with long-time friends Dick and Joanne Claypool of Marshalltown, trips to Branson and wintering in Arizona for many years. He loved his coffee groups, reading, woodworking, helping his children fix up their homes, attending events of his grandchildren, the Webster City Lynx, the Iowa Hawkeyes, being an election volunteer for Hamilton County and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his sons, Kevin (Trish) Bahrenfuss and Kenton (Diane) Bahrenfuss and daughter-in-law Deb Bahrenfuss all of Webster City; grandchildren Ben, Erin, Cory (Sheryl), Tracy (Kyle), Chad (Becca), Robyn (Dylhan), Kelsey (Caleb), Dalton (Molly), Mari Kait and Madeline; 7 great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in January, 2021; son Kyle in 2013; and his five sisters and two brothers and their spouses: Leila (Raymond) Roe; Mae (Elmer) Bruns; Eleanore (Adolph) Schroeder; Jean (Lloyd) Roe; Robert (Margaret) Bahrenfuss; Shirley (Mervin) Mourlam and Lee (Phyllis) Bahrenfuss.
Memorials may be given in Keith’s honor to Trinity Lutheran Church.