Keith Kies, age 70 of Lake View, IA, passed away on Friday, June 30, 2023, at his home after a long-fought battle with cancer. Keith Royden Kies was born on May 10, 1953, to parents Raymond and Maxine (Buse) Kies at Loring Hospital in Sac City, IA. He grew up on a farm south of Wall Lake, IA, and attended Wall Lake Elementary School. Keith graduated from Wall Lake High School with the class of 1971. He was baptized on June 7, 1953, and confirmed on March 19, 1967, at Peace Lutheran Church in Wall Lake. Keith enjoyed serving as a Sunday School teacher within the Lutheran Church.
On May 22, 1976, Keith married the love of his life, Melodee Cook, at Peace Lutheran Church. This union was blessed with three children, Nicholas, Natasha, and Spencer. Together they raised their family on a farm near Lake View. In his early years, Keith worked as a block layer and helped in the construction of many community buildings in Sac County. Most recently, Keith was proud to have done the block work for the Sac County Veterans Memorial in Sac City.
Keith and Melodee, along with their children, raised hogs, sheep, chickens, and cows over the years. Many hours were spent together as a family in the hog barns and skidloaders while tending to the farm operation. Keith raised corn, soybeans, oats, and hay in their row crop operation. He was well known for his hard work ethic; he was constantly working, as tending to the farm was his passion. Keith suffered a life altering farm accident in 2017, but fought through his recovery and was proud to get back to doing the things he loved-farming and spending time with his family. He worked right up until the end of his life, and wouldn’t have had it any other way.
When not working around the farm or out in the fields, Keith could be found with a fishing pole in his hand. Aside from spending time with his family, fishing was one of his favorite things to do. He absolutely loved it when he was able to combine the two–fishing and family—as it meant he was doing his favorite thing, with his favorite people. Many fishing adventures were taken with various extended family members and friends to Canada and South Dakota in Keith’s lifetime! The stories they would tell when they got together provided many laughs and were cherished memories for the family.
Keith had a way of making people smile—or better, yet—laugh! He loved telling jokes and the more he got others to laugh, the more fun he had. Keith was known as Husband, Dad, or Gramps, but his most treasured name was Poppo, which his four grandchildren affectionately called him. He will be dearly missed by his family and all those who knew and loved him.
Left to cherish Keith’s memory include his wife, Melodee Kies of Lake View, IA; children Nicholas (Lisa) Kies, Natasha Kies, and Spencer Kies (Samantha Hansen) all of Lake View, IA; grandchildren Colson and Miranda Kies, Lillian and Lakelynn Kies; brother Bruce (Vickie) Kies of Blair, NE; sister Marilyn (Richard) Swircinski of Omaha, NE; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Jim Fickel of Oregon, Evonne Cook of Estherville, IA, Jo-Ellyn Cook of Denver, CO, Karen (Kevin) Allstott of Indianola, IA, Kirk (Mary) Cook of Ottumwa, IA, Marilee (Randy) Buse of Lake View, IA, Mary Druivenga of Wall Lake, IA, Everett (Kristi) Cook of Queen Creek, AZ, and Renata Kies of Dallas Center, IA; as well as many other extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Maxine Kies; sister Connie Fickel; brothers Milo Kies and Stanley Kies; niece Tiffany Kies; nephew Jason Cook; great-nephew Maxwell Kies; great-niece Faith Fickel; parents-in-law Vincent and Julaine Cook; brothers-in-law John Cook, George Cook, and Steve Druivenga.
