Bernard L Keller

  Noted events in his life were:

• Obituary.
Bernard L. Keller, age 85, of Stitzer, WI passed away on Saturday November 20, 2021, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg. He was born on February 16, 1936, in Stitzer the son of Jesse and Velma (Hicken) Keller. Bernard was united in marriage to Elaine Zart on June 20, 1957, at the Fennimore United Methodist Church.
Bernard liked fishing, hunting, music, and became an avid bird watcher. He had a passion for nature and being outdoors. He and Elaine loved to travel and visited various places in the U.S. and abroad. Bernard was a strong family man who loved children. He had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed practical jokes.
After his graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1959, he taught biology at Monroe High School for 3 ½ years. During that time he attended National Science Foundation workshops in Louisiana, Minnesota, and New Jersey. After completing his Master's Degree at Oklahoma State University in 1963, he taught biology at Homestead High School, Mequon, WI.
As a result of his father's death at age 54, Bernard moved back to Stitzer in 1965 to become a partner with Lloyd Shanley in the insurance business. In 1972 his brother Donald replaced Lloyd Shanley as partner in the insurance agency. After 42 years of working together, Bernard and Donald retired in 2014 and sold the business to Andre Keller, Bernard's son.
In 1967 Bernard became Secretary/Manager of the Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company and served in that position until 2001. During his tenure at Liberty Mutual, he became active in State and National Insurance organizations. He became a Director of the Wisconsin Association of Town Mutual Insurance Companies (WATMIC) in 1972 and served as its President from 1973 -1976.
From 1974 through 1985, Bernard was active in the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) serving in many capacities, first as Chaplain of the 1974 Convention and in 1978 as speaker at the Prayer Breakfast. In 1981 he served as Chairman of NAMIC, the first insurance executive from Wisconsin to hold that position.
Bernard joined the Wisconsin Town Mutual Reinsurance Company (WRC) Board of Directors in 1978. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 1982 and served in that capacity until 2001.
Bernard served as a Director of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives (WFC) from 1984-1992.
Bernard served on the Stitzer Sanitary District Board from 1989 to Feb. 2021.
At the Stitzer United Methodist Church, Bernard taught Sunday School, was lay speaker, Chairperson of the Administrative Council and lay delegate to conference for many years.
He was still President of the Stitzer Methodist Cemetery Association at the time of his death.
He is survived by his wife Elaine of Stitzer, four children: Christilee (Joe) Sprinkle of Monroe, Andre Keller of Stitzer, Rochelle (Brent) Schellinger of Waunakee, Randall (Hilary) Keller of Columbia City, IN; seven grandchildren: Rebecca (Joshua) Fohner, Grace Schellinger, Tamara (John) Latham-Sprinkle, Amber (Fiancé Ben McNally) Keller, Lauren, Margo, and Ronan Keller, and his brother Donald (Marilyn) Keller of Lancaster along with many nieces and nephews.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Cheryl and Wilfred Budack, his father-in-law and mother-in law Henry and Lela Zart, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Harold and Dorothy Zart and David and Barbara Zart.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday December 5, 2021, at the Stitzer United Methodist Church in Stitzer with burial to follow in the Stitzer Methodist Cemetery in rural Stitzer. Visitation will be held from 2:00-5:00 P.M. Saturday afternoon December 4, 2021, at the church and from 1:00-2:00 P.M. on Sunday before the funeral. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials may be given to the Stitzer United Methodist Church, Agrace Hospice, or the UW Carbone Caner Center in loving memory of Bernard L. Keller.

Bernard married Elaine Margaret Zart, daughter of Henry Zart and Lela Emma Schuppener, on 20 Jun 1957 in Fennimore, WI. (Elaine Margaret Zart was born on 19 May 1936 in Stitzer, WI.)