Obituary for Lemuel Jacob "Lem" Keen
Lemuel J. Keen, of New Hope (Solebury Township), Pennsylvania passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022, at Doylestown Hospital, Doylestown, PA. He was 86 years old.
Born in Selbyville, Delaware, Lem came to Lambertville, NJ as a young boy. He graduated from Lambertville’s Third Ward School and from Lambertville High School. Following graduation, he served in the US Army. Upon returning home from service, Lem worked as a lineman with Public Service before going to work for Skillman Oil in New Hope. He retired from Skillman as a manager after 40 years of service. Lem was dedicated to his family and his community. He was honored as a lifetime member of New Hope’s Eagle Fire Company after 50 years of dedicated service. He was one of the fire company’s first members to be certified to operate the Scott Air Pack. Beyond serving as a fire company member, Lem gave unselfishly as a company volunteer. He helped organize fire house events and fund raisers, including the annual train show, the flea markets and weekly bingo. He cooked in “Murphy’s Kitchen”, sold “Lem’s Gems” at the flea markets and was always available to assist whatever the need. He served on the Eagle’s Board of Directors and was honored as the Fire Fighter of the Year. The entire New Hope-Solebury-Lambertville area is deeply grateful for Lem’s many years of service. Lem was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lambertville, where he served as a deacon. He also volunteered for the Jaycees and was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Lambertville.
Lem was a devoted husband to his late wife Joan for 54 years. He loved spending time with his children. He volunteered as the medic for New Hope Express Soccer and was a chaperone on New Hope Solebury School Band trips. Lem never missed his kids’ games and always cheered the loudest for their teams. He loved summer vacations in Lewis Delaware. Most days Lem could be found picking up his morning coffee at the New Hope Wawa. Most Sunday mornings he’d stop at his sister Vivian’s house for coffee and a visit. At home he loved crossword and jig saw puzzles (often working on more than one at a time) and tending to his coin collection.
Lem was the husband of the late Joan Katherine Skillman Keen, the son of the late Clarence and Mary Isler Keen and the brother of the late Clarence and Kenneth Keen. He is survived by his children and their families: James Keen and his wife Joanie of Beaverton, Oregon, Nancy Keen and her partner John Hoag of New Hope and Kenneth Keen and his wife Denise of Doylestown; his grandchildren Elizabeth, Kaitlynn, Courtney, Ryan and Kelly; his sisters Vivian Hackney of Lambertville and Betty Ann Vasey of Florida and his extended family of friends, neighbors and the Eagle Fire Company of New Hope.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 5 pm at the New Hope Eagle Fire Company, 46 Sugan Road, New Hope, PA 18938.
Calling hours at the fire house on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 3 pm until the start of services.
Donations in Mr. Keen’s memory may be made to the New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company, 46 Sugan Road, New Hope PA 18938.
Born in Selbyville, Delaware, Lem came to Lambertville, NJ as a young boy. He graduated from Lambertville’s Third Ward School and from Lambertville High School. Following graduation, he served in the US Army. Upon returning home from service, Lem worked as a lineman with Public Service before going to work for Skillman Oil in New Hope. He retired from Skillman as a manager after 40 years of service. Lem was dedicated to his family and his community. He was honored as a lifetime member of New Hope’s Eagle Fire Company after 50 years of dedicated service. He was one of the fire company’s first members to be certified to operate the Scott Air Pack. Beyond serving as a fire company member, Lem gave unselfishly as a company volunteer. He helped organize fire house events and fund raisers, including the annual train show, the flea markets and weekly bingo. He cooked in “Murphy’s Kitchen”, sold “Lem’s Gems” at the flea markets and was always available to assist whatever the need. He served on the Eagle’s Board of Directors and was honored as the Fire Fighter of the Year. The entire New Hope-Solebury-Lambertville area is deeply grateful for Lem’s many years of service. Lem was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lambertville, where he served as a deacon. He also volunteered for the Jaycees and was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Lambertville.
Lem was a devoted husband to his late wife Joan for 54 years. He loved spending time with his children. He volunteered as the medic for New Hope Express Soccer and was a chaperone on New Hope Solebury School Band trips. Lem never missed his kids’ games and always cheered the loudest for their teams. He loved summer vacations in Lewis Delaware. Most days Lem could be found picking up his morning coffee at the New Hope Wawa. Most Sunday mornings he’d stop at his sister Vivian’s house for coffee and a visit. At home he loved crossword and jig saw puzzles (often working on more than one at a time) and tending to his coin collection.
Lem was the husband of the late Joan Katherine Skillman Keen, the son of the late Clarence and Mary Isler Keen and the brother of the late Clarence and Kenneth Keen. He is survived by his children and their families: James Keen and his wife Joanie of Beaverton, Oregon, Nancy Keen and her partner John Hoag of New Hope and Kenneth Keen and his wife Denise of Doylestown; his grandchildren Elizabeth, Kaitlynn, Courtney, Ryan and Kelly; his sisters Vivian Hackney of Lambertville and Betty Ann Vasey of Florida and his extended family of friends, neighbors and the Eagle Fire Company of New Hope.
Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 5 pm at the New Hope Eagle Fire Company, 46 Sugan Road, New Hope, PA 18938.
Calling hours at the fire house on Friday, May 6, 2022, from 3 pm until the start of services.
Donations in Mr. Keen’s memory may be made to the New Hope Eagle Volunteer Fire Company, 46 Sugan Road, New Hope PA 18938.