Memorial
Paula Marie Keenan, 60, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy on Dec. 6, 2015, following a long courageous battle with illness.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, at First Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, with the Rev. Steve Knudson officiating. Family and friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service.
Paula was born on Sep. 18, 1955, in Waukon, IA, to Ralph and Barbara (Joy) Keenan. She married the love of her life, Connie Splitgerber, on May 18, 2015, as the capstone of a 20-year relationship. Paula graduated from Waukon High School in 1973, and earned an Associate of Arts degree from Kirkwood Community College. She worked for the Cedar Rapids Water Dept. for 27 years. Paula enjoyed reading, music, and was a rabid Green Bay Packers fan. She was also an award-winning writer.
Paula is survived by her wife, Connie; her sister, Patricia Keenan, and nephew, Justin Hayward, both of Springfield, VA; sister-in-law, Patricia (James) Caldwell; niece, Deb (Gary) Polum; great-nephew, Tyler Polum, all of Shawano, WI; and great-niece, Tracy (Mike Recore Jr.) Caldwell and their children Riley and Cashton; sister-in-law, Judy (LeRoy) Splitgerber; nephew, Robert Splitgerber; nephew, Todd (Val) Splitgerber; and great-niece, Paige Splitgerber, all of Appleton, WI.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Robert and Lorraine Splitgerber; grandparents Thomas and Elizabeth Keenan and Walter and Marie Joy; and brother-in-law, LeRoy Splitgerber.
Paula was particularly grateful for the friendship of Heather Wagner, Michael Holmes, Andrea Ryan, and Melanie Stahlberg, MD, as well as her many cousins.
She was loved by all and will be truly missed by her friends and family.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the staff of Hospice of Mercy for their devoted care and compassion.
A memorial has been established in her memory.