Eloyce (Wessel) Keating

Eloyce (Wessel) Keating, a beloved mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, passed away on Monday, December 30th, 2024, at the age of 73. 

Eloyce was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Lowell and Delores Wessel on May 5, 1951, and was raised in Huron, SD. She received her Bachelor’s then went on to pursue her Master’s in Education from the University of South Dakota. 

As a dedicated teacher for 40 years, Eloyce touched the lives of countless young children. She was known for her creativity and ability to see the unique potential in each student. She shaped many lives, both in and out of the classroom. 

Being a mother brought Eloyce immense joy. She raised her two daughters in Sioux City, IA, and cherished motherhood as her life’s most profound blessing. In recent years, her joy expanded as she embraced the role of grandmother. She treasured every moment spent with her grandchildren, finding pride and happiness in watching them grow and thrive.

In her later years, Eloyce found happiness in Omaha, NE, where she shared a beautiful life with her devoted partner, Mark. Together, they built a home with love, companionship, laughter, and faith, while creating cherished memories. 

Eloyce will be remembered for her ability to see the heart of people, her passion for educating children, and the profound impact she made on her family, friends and community. 

She is survived by her partner Mark Baxter, her two daughters Katelyn (Chris) Kinnerk, Carrie (Mike) Petty, her former spouse Mike Keating, her mother Delores Wessel, 3 grandchildren (Kinley, Cade, Makenna Petty), her sister Deborah (Dean) McCrary and many cousins, nieces and nephews. 

We will be honoring Eloyce’s life on Sunday, January 5th, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City, IA. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm with the funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm. We welcome all friends and family to join us for a gathering after the service at Faith Lutheran Church. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the GoFundMe titled “Honoring Eloyce” where donations will go towards Siouxland Christian School’s Rise Up campaign, “Educating Hearts and Minds for Christ.”

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