W. Keith Rattenborg

William Keith Rattenborg was born October 26, 1936 to Cena Mary Blevins and Simon Arnold Rattenborg, in a home at the top of Walnut street in Oakland Iowa.

Keith spent most of his life in Oakland except for a small time when the family moved to Oklahoma.

Keith began his business management skills delivering papers locally.  He said it's always where he learned to develop a credit program and how to collect.

Later, Keith worked for the local theatre running the projection machine.

Keith graduated from Oakland High School in Oakland, Iowa in 1954. After graduation he worked for the Chevy garage, he sold insurance, and for a short stint drove a dry-cleaning route that enabled him to meet numerous people and families in southwest Iowa.  In 1969 he bought the Standard Station from Earl Heckman and began Standard Auto Service Corp.  Before he started that business, he spent some time in the National Guard and in 1958 he married Lois Lorraine Danker and they raised three children, Jolaine, Jolynn, and Chris.

Keith enjoyed cars, working, driving, and had been known to get into a race or two.  Keith was a devout man of Faith and enjoyed his work and the people it brought into his life.  He kept working so he could continue his friendships and many conversations he enjoyed.  He liked meeting people who were travelling and hearing of their adventures, and they would often plan on stopping back in when they came through town.  Keith loved his children and his grandchildren.  He and Lois were known to have their grandchildren stay at the house with them.  Keith also enjoyed his gardening and landscaping and took a great deal of pride in the upkeep of his home, working tirelessly on the Sundays he and Lois had off.  Keith believed in stewardship and took pride in his community and helping when asked or it was needed.

Keith continued to work and run his business up until his diagnosis that led to hospice.  He passed away at Jolaine's home in the room he chose to spend his final days and had many visitors.  He was grateful and enjoyed each of them. When the Lord sent his Angels, Keith's passing was very peaceful.

Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his son-in-law Micheal Jacobsen; his sister Mary Lou Kearney and her husband Blaine; Brothers and sisters-in-law: Gordon and Janice Knott, George and Donna Rae Schueman, Ronnie Lockwood, Gerald Danker, and Herb Madron; nephew John Kearney; and niece Joanie Schueman.

He is survived by his three children: Jolaine Mills, Jolynn Rattenborg, Chris Rattenborg (Susan); his grandchildren: Eddie Kellogg (Janelle) and their children, London, Theory, Lyndel, and Luna; Tyler Kellogg (Celina) and their children, Evelynn and Tyler Jr; Steven Kellogg (Brianna) and their son Stinson; Joshua Mills (Diamond) and sons Milo and Leon; Nickalous Kellogg (Josilynn) and son Elijah; M. Christan Jacobsen (Emily) and Gia Lorraine Jacobsen; and special and beloved nephew Rick Lockwood.  Many more friends and family have mourned the loss of Keith.

The family appreciates the visitors, the stop ins at the station to offer condolences, hugs and words of Faith, and even homemade rolls. Keith's final wishes were to be cremated and his services to be viewed, not as a loss but as his gain to his eternal home and health, reunification with those who went before him and wants us to celebrate a life he felt blessed to have lived.

A celebration of life memorial service will be held on Saturday April 6, 2023, at 1:30 PM at Impact Hill in Oakland, IA.  Lunch and a time of fellowship will be held after the memorial service at the Oakland Community Building from 2:30 until 5:00 PM.

Please share your favorite stories and experiences - Keith was serene and confident about where he was going, and that his spirit was not ending, only transforming and he wants us to celebrate his journey from his birth to rebirth in Heaven.  So today we will celebrate the joy he gave so many knowing he is close to all of us.

Memorials may be donated to the Riverside Food Pantry.