Dave Keithley, 82, Boone, Iowa
BOONE, Iowa—Dave Keithley, 82, of Boone, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at Boone County Hospital.
Dave was born on June 6, 1943, in Nowata, Oklahoma, the son of David and Mary (Turner) Keithley. In 1963, he joined the Navy. Dave worked as a Radarman; and after his active duty, he was in the Navy Reserves. Dave was very proud of his service, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of any weapon or military equipment with his family. He was a member of the Boone VFW.
He married Carol (Kaufman) Potkonak in Edmund, Oklahoma on December 31, 1987.
Dave lived life to the fullest. He travelled to fifty countries, filling two passports full of stamps. Dave worked overseas repairing electric equipment and computers, and did all of the wiring for the first 747 plane ever made. His work was thirty days of traveling, thirty days home. Dave enjoyed that he “worked for six months of the year, and got paid for the full year”. When he was home, Dave loved watching “Jeopardy” and “Wheel of Fortune”.
Dave loved deeply and protected those he loved. He continued his love for others by being an organ donor.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
David is survived by his wife, Carol Keithley, who dearly misses him; step-son, Dan (Mary Jo) Potkonak; daughter, Erin Keithley; and two step-grandchildren Dustin (Danielle) Potkonak, Samantha (Jake) Charapata. Carol and Dave have seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; and he has two sisters, Mary Ann Lockwood and Patti Hoffman in Oklahoma. A private gathering will be held at a later date.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Dave’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
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