Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Dr. Jerome Keefe honored for 50 years dedicated service



Nearly 200 people gathered at the Community Building at
the Cheyenne County fairgrounds on Sunday, Oct. 11 for Dr. Jerome Keefe’s
Golden Jubilee celebration. Dr. Keefe has served Cheyenne Wells and the
surrounding communities for 50 years.

People came to honor Dr. Keefe, to thank him for his years
of dedication to quality health care for the community, to reminisce about
good times and bad, or simply to enjoy the company of a man who is a legend
in his own time, at least in his corner of eastern Colorado.

Speakers stressed the selflessness of Dr. Keefe’s years
of service. How he could have earned more money or gathered a wider range
of recognition in a larger community. How he made no distinction between
rich or poor or socially prominent, but treated all patients fairly and
equally.

Former hospital administrator and nurse Linda Roth said
Dr. Keefe was “slow to anger, quick to smile, . . .eager to teach,
always fun to work with.” After the party, Nancy Bogenhagen, who worked
at the hospital with Dr Keefe for many years, said she was “overwhelmed”
by the celebration. “

It is about more than just Dr. Keefe,” she said, “it
is about the entire community of Cheyenne Wells. It is such a pleasure to
have known him and I really appreciate all he has done.”

Dr. Keefe received a standing ovation after the 20-minute
video celebrating his life and career put together by his son Gerald Keefe
wit help from several other people. People also stood to applaud as Dr.
Keefe rose to say, “What a day!”

A great crowd of people rose to their feet, too, when all
of the women present who had had babies delivered by Dr. Keefe, and any
of the babies themselves, were asked to rise. Not surprisingly, as Dr. Keefe
estimates he has delivered approximately 1,500 babies in his time.

Members of the audience were seen surreptitiously wiping
tears away when some part of the proceeding touched a heart or sparked a
reminiscence. Tears were shed, too, as Dr. Keefe acknowledged the wonderful
support of his wife Ellen, saying he “couldn’t have done it without
her.”

While Sunday’s party was Dr. Keefe’s Golden Jubilee, it
was definitely not his retirement party. Dr. Keefe is the primary care physician
for residents of Cheyenne Manor nursing home and intends to continue in
that role.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.