Cornelius M. “Corney” Keintz, age 97

Cornelius Matthew “Corney" Keintz

Mass of Christian Burial for Cornelius M. “Corney” Keintz was held Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Eden. Burial was in St. Michael’s Cemetery under the direction of the Price Funeral Chapel of Britton.


Corney passed away Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at Avera-St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen at the age of 97.
Cornelius Matthew Keintz, or Corney as he was known to nearly everyone, was born August 30, 1920 at Eden, SD. He was the son of John M. and Susie (Opitz) Keintz. He graduated from Roslyn High School in 1938, and later that year he attended a winter agricultural program in Brookings. He returned to the farm near Eden where he started farming with his father.


On June 12, 1944 Corney was united in marriage with Dorothy Sass of Webster. They made their home in the Eden area where they farmed and raised their six children. Dorothy passed away July 11, 2002 after 58 years together. Corney remained in his home on the west edge of Eden.


Over the years, Corney was involved with many civic organizations. He had been a Marshall County Commissioner, belonged to the Eden Lions Club and Eden Volunteer Fire Department, served on the Britton Hospital Board, the Regional Avera Hospital Board, FHA Local Director, the Roslyn School Board, the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Marshall County Extension Board, was a charter member and board member of the Eden Farmers’ Coop Elevator, and was a great proponent of the Senior Nutrition Meals Program. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and had been active in the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Knights of Columbus and had served as their Grand Knight. He made many friends from his service on these boards, and had many stories, pranks and a special place in his heart for not only these organizations, but the people who were part of them.
Corney had a keen sense of humor, and loved to play jokes on friends and family. He will be well remembered for the colorful spin he put on the Eden News for many years. He loved doing crossword puzzles, sending notes to friends and Sunday brunches He was especially proud of Corney’s Corn Maze that he had grown the past several years. His appreciation of nature was capped off by his great fondness for trees. He had a tremendous memory for dates and Eden history, as well as world events and political discussions. Everyone who knew Corney will conjure up the mental image of him driving his orange Kubota with his faithful companion, Smokey in the back. He offered everyone a good “saluti,” morning or night.


Grateful for having shared his life are his six children: Marsha (Lee) Miller of Cottonwood, MN; John (Judy) Keintz of Missoula, MT; Marilyn Keintz of Sioux Falls, SD; Ralph (Mary Ellen) Keintz of Eden, SD; Sue (Cathie Staples) Keintz of Santa Monica, CA; Brian (Anne Doyle) Keintz of Delray Beach, FL; a special friend and caregiver, Faye Fees; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; a sister, Sibylla Opitz of Webster; two brothers-in-law, Ralph Grode and Raymond Sass.


Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, two sisters: Vivian Jaspers and Sylvia Grode; three brothers-in-law: Raymond Jaspers, Delmar Opitz, Richard Sass; and his dog of fifteen years, Smokey.


Condolences may be directed to the family in care of Ralph Keintz - P.O. Box 14 - Eden, SD 57232.

The Pioneer Review

221 E. Oak Street
Philip, SD 57567
Telephone: (605) 859-2516
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