Alan Joseph Matthew Kellen Sr.

ALAN KELLEN, SR.

Alan Kellen, Sr., age 76 of Cherokee, IA, passed away Friday, November 29, 2024, at Mercy One Hospital in Sioux City, IA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 6, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Cherokee. Monsignor Kenneth Seifried will officiate. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cherokee, IA. Military rites will be conducted by the Cherokee V.F.W. L.A. Wescott Post 2253 and the Cherokee American Legion. Visitation with family present will be held from 4:30-7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at the church. There will be a rosary at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the church. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Alan Joseph Matthew Kellen, Sr., the son of Harriet Kellen, was born September 26, 1948, in Le Mars, IA. His childhood years were spent in Le Mars where he attended school and graduated from Le Mars Community high school in 1967. 

He was drafted in the Army in May of 1968 where he served as a field artillery wireman in the 92nd Battalion in Vietnam. 

He attended college at Iowa Lakes Community College for Music Appreciation. 

On February 14, 1980, Alan married Linda Reuter at Immaculate Conception Church in Cherokee, IA. Together, they made their home in Cherokee, IA. Alan worked at Wilson’s Foods and enjoyed delivering the Sioux City Journal, Des Moines Register and Omaha Herald, for many years.

Alan loved being outdoors where he was passionate about hunting and fishing. He spent countless hours drinking coffee with his friends. He also enjoyed fixing old computers and he always had a pocketful of jokes. 

He could play 6 different instruments, the guitar being his favorite and enjoyed performing throughout his years in bands and church. 

Alan was a member of the IC Catholic Church where he was a 4th Degree Knight. 

On Friday, November 29, 2024, Alan passed away peacefully at Mercy One Hospital in Sioux City, IA. He was preceded in death by his mother, Harriet Kellen and sister, Ann Whitehead.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Linda Kellen of Cherokee, IA; children, Denise Trammel of McKinney, TX, Jessy Kellen of Storm Lake, IA, Michael Schmidt of Sioux City, IA, Alan Kellen Jr. of Cherokee, IA, Joey Kellen of Cherokee, IA, and Theresa (Justin) Martin of St. Cloud, MN; grandchildren, Jamison, Jackson, Charlese, and Jonas; other relatives and friends.