Erma Christina Keller, 91, of Reinbeck, died from natural causes on Sunday, January 15, 2006 at the Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M., Thursday, January 19, 2006, at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Reinbeck, with Pastor Joel Love officiating. Burial will follow at the Reinbeck Cemetery in Reinbeck. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 18, 2006, from 1:00 P.M., to 8:00 P.M., with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 P.M., to 8:00 P.M., at French Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck. A memorial fund has been established.
Erma was born November 1, 1914, at home in rural Reinbeck, Iowa, the daughter of James and Annie (Fiet) Sell. She received her education attending rural Reinbeck country school. On February 25, 1934, Erma was united in marriage to Jake Brumbaugh. After their marriage they farmed for several years by Dunkerton, Iowa. They then moved to a farm by Reinbeck, and farmed there for many years. Erma's husband Jake died in 1962, and she continued to live on the farm until January 1963, when she moved to town. Erma later married Fred Keller. She also began work at the Dietrich Turkey Farm, working there for many years. Her husband Fred Keller died in 1972, and Erma continued to make Reinbeck her home. She was a member of the North Neighborhood Club, enjoyed gardening, and was a wonderful cook. Her grandchildren were very special to her and she loved spending time with them.
She is survived by two sons Leonard Brumbaugh of Reinbeck, Iowa; Glenn Brumbaugh and his wife Marion of Reinbeck, Iowa; two daughters Jolene Potter of Phoenix, Arizona; Debbie Creswell and her husband Jeff of Crestline, California; five grandchildren; fifteen great-grandchildren; one sister La Vonne De Groote and her husband Bob of Parkersburg, Iowa; and one sister-in-law, Betty Sell of Traer, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands Jake Brumbaugh and Fred Keller; one granddaughter Wendy Potter; three brothers Harry, Roy, and Elmer Sell; and four sisters Mary Dack, Florence Durham, Evelyn Murphy, and Elva Sell in infancy.