Sadie Ellen Keesen

Sadie Ellen Keesen

Mary (Ennick) and Bill Ritsema welcomed Sadie into this world on June 19, 1918 in Birnamwood, Wisconsin. Sadie joined her sister Betty (Swierenga) and the family later grew to include brothers, Fred and Gary, and sister, Bert (Reynolds).  The family moved to Denver, Colorado when Sadie was five.  She attended Denver Christian School and South High School and lived across the street from her future husband, George Keesen, when she was 12 years old.

In the late 1930’s, Sadie attended Calvin College for two years and then went on to teach in Whitinsville, Massachusetts where George, a handsome, young Army Air Corp lieutenant,  visited her frequently.  When she moved back to Denver to teach in 1943, George was transferred to Buckley Air Field three weeks later.  They married on June 12, 1946 after friends and neighbors had saved enough coupons for the sugar for the wedding cake.  Sadie and George were blessed with two children:  Susan and Myrna.  Myrna died in 1970 after a 15 month battle with cancer.  Susan married Andrew Vander Ploeg in 1971 and two grandchildren, Peter and Jamie followed.  Just two weeks ago, Peter and his wife, Kira, blessed Sadie with a great-grandson, Andrew Peter.

After faith and family, the most significant part of Sadie’s life was her teaching.  She taught for 23 years in the Denver Christian School system, retiring in 1978.  It was always such a joy to her when a former student came up to her and said “You were my third grade teacher and I loved you.”  In her retirement years, she loved to go the mountains, play golf with George and take care of Pete and Jamie. 

We find comfort that her mind and memory are now restored to her. 

A celebration of Sadie's life will be on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at Third Christian Reformed Church (2400 South Ash Street, Denver, Colorado 80222) at 11:00 a.m.

Family and friends are encouraged to share stories, photographs and sign the guest book here on Sadie's website. (click appropriate tab above)