Gordon N. Keller

Dr. Gordon N. Keller
LOGAN, Utah -- Gordon Nelson Keller, 91, passed away peacefully on July 24, 2010 with his family by his side.
Gordon was born in Brigham City Utah on March 15, 1919, son of Varian and Emma Nelson Keller. He graduated from Box Elder High School where he served as Student Body President. Gordon continued his education at the University of Utah, earning a BA degree. He joined the Army Reserve Civilian Pilot Training Program and in 1942 entered the U.S. Army Air Corps as a pilot. He attended Radio Communications training at Truax Air Field in Wisconsin and B-29 Crypto and Radar Radio training at Chanute AFB and at McCook Neb. His final assignment was with the 15th Air Force HQ which took him to Colorado Springs, Colorado where he met and fell in love with a beautiful young civilian Signal Corps supervisor named Dolores M. Sasek from Swanton, Nebraska. Gordon and Dolores were married on March 7, 1946 in the base chapel at Colorado Springs. After being discharged from the military, Gordon completed his education by earning Masters and Doctorate degrees in
Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Chicago and was elected to the Sigma Xi Research Society. He then began his career as a university professor, teaching at Wichita State University. In 1962 he moved his family to Logan when he became the first anthropologist at Utah State University. In 1963 he began his dream of establishing an Anthropology Museum at the University by collecting and displaying prehistoric American Indian artifacts in glass cases in the basement of Old Main. Through the effort of Gordon and others his collection has grown to become today's USU Museum of Anthropology. Gordon greatly enjoyed being a professor, and as an advisor, mentor and teacher he influenced the lives and careers of countless students. Upon his retirement in 1987, he became a Professor Emeritus at Utah State where he and Dolores remained actively involved in University events. Gordon enjoyed an active and full life right up until the end. He was
always proud to say he was Czech by marriage. He enjoyed traveling, square dancing, playing songs by ear on his harmonica, golfing, and most of all spending time with his wife and family. He was a wonderful husband, father, friend and neighbor who will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Gordon is survived by his loving wife Dolores, four children; Doug (Nancy) Keller of Albuquerque, N.M., Susan Keller of Murray, Ut., Gregg (Thelma) Keller of Sandy, Ut., and Brad (Elaine) Keller of Grover Beach, Ca., nieces Margaret Meadows and Sherri Snow, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Julius and Wayne.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 31 at the Lundstrom Park Ward Chapel, 1260 North 1600 East. A viewing will be held from 6-8 PM on Friday, July 30 at Allen-Hall Mortuary, 34 East Center Street in Logan and from 9:30-10:30 AM prior to services at the ward building. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Condolences and thoughts may be expressed to the family online at www.allenmortuaries.net .