Barbara "Joan" Keefer

Barbara Joan Keefer, 88, of Roanoke, passed away at 2:00 pm Sunday, September 8, 2024. Joan would like to let you know that her work here is done. She received a call Sunday September 8th, 2024, a sort of offer you can’t refuse, for an appointment from which she will not be returning. This assignment comes with a huge sign-on bonus, a reunion with her husband, “Les”, the love of her life, her family and friends she has not seen in a long time. Her new mission takes her to a wonderful place where she will be socializing and reading all sorts of genealogy material and researching the family history of every new person and everyone she will be meeting. She will be busy baking something for everyone to share. Friends, laughter, and love are guaranteed. Joan was born September 1, 1936, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Roger and Maude Wynkoop Barnt. She graduated from Huntington High School in 1954, and married the love of her life, Lester “Les” Keefer, on October 1, 1954. They were married for 54 years before he received his call April 1, 2009. Surviving are her son, Lee “Buster” Keefer and partner Karen Jackson, Ft. Wayne, IN; daughter, Lori (Curtis) VanOver, Huntington, IN; From these two children, there are five grandsons, Jason (Jennie) Keefer, Bradley (Brandi Ott) Keefer, Jerin (Megan) Clements, Tyler (Casey) Keefer, and Justin Keefer. One granddaughter, Laura Keefer. Four great grandsons, Braxton and Carter Keefer, Terin Clements, Tavis Holley, and three great granddaughters Takara Hethcote, Chloe Keefer, and Kristina Wigman round out Joan’s family. Also surviving are a special brother-in-law and his wife Harold “Bud” and Charlene “Charlie” Keefer, of Okeechobee, Florida, and bonus son, David Byrd of Craigville, Indiana. Joan was proceeded in death by her husband, parents, a “big brother” Roger Barnt Jr, who died July 8, 1953, a special stepfather Arthur “Woody” Dalrymple, and a bonus son, Max Byrd. Genealogy was Joan’s passion, and she lived it day and night. Nothing escaped her scrutiny when researching a person’s family history. She had a memory which knew no bounds. Joan won numerous awards for her lifetime of work in family research. She was Huntington County Historian for a number of years, she was a member of the Huntington County Historical Society Board for many years, she spent time as a member of the County Courthouse Centennial Committee where she did extensive research on the building of the courthouse, she accepted the Lt. Governor’s Hospitality Award and the William C. Heiss family History/Genealogy Award, among others. In 2017, she was chosen as an honoree in Huntington County Honors Class of Outstanding People. Joan had co-complied several books pertaining to Huntington County History. Joan conducted numerous day-long workshops for Genealogy Groups from Grant, Noble, and Wabash counties, she also judged 4-H projects in neighboring counties. November 2, 2019, the Indiana Room at the Huntington City Township Public Library was renamed THE B. JOAN KEEFER GENEALOGY AND LOCAL HISTORY CENTER in honor of her work and dedication building a room of local history and genealogy. Many years ago, after promising her husband, Les, that she would only work two years to organize a genealogy and history room at the old Carnegie Huntington City Library, Joan retired October 2016, after 40 years from the Huntington City-Township Public Library. She began volunteering in the library in 1976 when they were first developing the Indiana Room. Everyone who knew Joan will remember her favorite saying which is on her stone, “Born a Buckeye, died a Nut.” There will be a burial at Andrews Riverside Cemetery 2:00 pm September 14, 2024, where she will be laid next to her loving Husband. A Celebration of Life will be held at Bailey-Love Mortuary on September 14, 2024, from 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Preferred memorials to the Huntington City-Township Public Library or Petting Zoo Ocala, in care of Bailey-Love Mortuary, 35 West Park Drive, Huntington, IN, 46750. Please sign the online guest book at www.baileylove.com. Bailey-Love Mortuary is honored to serve the family of Barbara Joan Keefer.