Patricia Ann Fritz Keil
Patricia Ann Fritz Keil, 82, of Dongola, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at Integrity of Anna.
She was born on March 17, 1941, in Dixon, the daughter of Daniel S. and Wilma Louise Ellis Fritz, and later moved to Elmhurst.
On Oct. 31, 1960, she married Jack Baggott Keil, and eventually moved to Dongola. They spent over 50 years together until his death in 2010.
Mrs. Keil was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Dongola. She was also a 50-year member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, last being the Xi Mu Lambda chapter.
She was a homemaker for many years, but she lived a life that was creative, eccentric and full of family adventures. Many will remember her for the years she and her husband owned and operated Dongola Cycle Sales.
Over the years, she was always available to help family with day-to-day tasks, but her biggest joy was to ride shotgun on life’s big adventures with her husband, daughters and their families.
Whether it was a role as airplane navigator, camping, snorkeling, traveling to Mardi Gras celebrations or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the many truck trips to points in-between, grandchild support team or chauffer, enjoying all kinds of music and singing, she was all in, every time.
She loved to paint and color, could bake a good loaf of bread or homemade rolls, crochet almost anything and made every flavor of an endless supply of homemade wine.
She is survived by her daughters, Pamela Keil, Rebecca (Mark) Dillman, Jennifer (Robert) Gordley and Belinda (Bradley) Jerolds; nine grandchildren, Keiler Dillman, Tyler (Jenna) Simmons, Bryan Dillman, Jack (Diana) Gordley, Jori Henley, Colton Jerolds, Mariah (Jake) Parr, Kathryn Gordley and Conner Jerolds; great-grandson Jack Simmons; sisters Shirley Molenda and Myrtle (Pete) Cvengros; sister-in-law Donna (Allen) Searles; other family, including nieces Pammi, Dawn, Betsy, Amy, Carmen, Tessie, Krissie, Leslie and Missie; nephew Daniel; special daughters Jackie Hammond, Alesia Stein, Carol West and Julie Revolenski.
Along with her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Alan Fritz and David Fritz.
Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 23, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with funeral services following at 7 p.m., with Pastor Chere Riedel officiating, at Crain Funeral Home in Dongola.
Memorials can be made to the First Lutheran Church of Dongola.
Crain Funeral Home in Dongola is in charge of arrangements.
To view the obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.