Keith Leforrest Atkin was born on June 15, 1922, the first child of Forrest L. and Effie Mae Albright Atkin, in Bloomington Township, Muscatine County, Iowa. He passed away on October 30, 2013, at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa. Keith received his education in the Lone Tree Public School in Lone Tree, Iowa, from 1928 - 1932, in Whittier Elementary School in Oskaloosa, Iowa, from 1932 - 1935, and completed his education at the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs, Iowa, graduating in May of 1941.

Seven months later, in December, World War II erupted. Keith was classified 4-F. He always recalled his draft card number, 11613, and carried his draft card until 1965. Keith served on the Home Front as a surviving member of the war's "Greatest Generation" as an employee at the Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Illinois, from 1943 - 1945. He also always recalled his arsenal employee badge number, 25404. After the war's end, he lived and worked on the west coast in Oregon before returning to Iowa.

Keith worked with his father, Forrest Atkin, a contractor, for a short period before moving on. In September, he signed on with Pella Corporation, once known as Pella Rolscreen Company. He spent thirty-six years with the company, twenty-seven as a spring-wire machinist, coiling panel springs for Pella Wood Folding Door, retiring in 1985. Keith was united in marriage to Evelyn Nugteren De Koning on July 1, 1968, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Bruce Atkin, his wife Evelyn, his step-son Jerald De Koning, his step-grandson Calvin Blommers, and his step-granddaughter Carol Hamre. Survivors are his sister, Phyllis Atkin Grull of Gulf Breeze, Florida, his sister-in-law Shirley Atkin of Pella, Iowa, and Evelyn's three children, Mary De Koning Blommers of Pella, Iowa, Dennis De Koning of Des Moines, Iowa, and Diana De Koning Kordick of Bridgewater, Iowa. Four grandchildren and six great grandchildren also survive, as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Keith was active in support of conservative causes and charitable groups in a modest way. He held a keen interest in current events and investigative news magazines.

GRAVESIDE SERVICE

1:00 P.M., Saturday, November 9, 2013
Lone Tree Cemetery
Lone Tree, Iowa

MEMORIALS

Iowa School for the Deaf

FAMILY

Wife: the late Evelyn (De Koning) Atkin
Step-Children: Mary Blommers - Pella, IA
Dennis De Koning - Des Moines, IA
Diana Kordick - Bridgewater, IA

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