Private Services being held in Mariposa February 2, 2013.
A golden voice was silenced on the early morning hours of January 25th, 2013, when Eleanor Keuning passed away while undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer affecting the aorta of the heart and one lung. She was hopeful she would beat this malignancy in order to spend more time with her one-year old granddaughter Michaela, whom she cherished.
Eleanor was a loving wife, mother, aunt, sister, grandmother and a loyal friend to many.
Eleanor leaves her husband, Kenneth Keuning, of Mariposa, CA, her son Gus Kambeitz, wife Tina and baby Michaela, and her daughter Jennifer Kambeitz, all of the San Jose area. Also surviving her are stepsons Stephen Keuning in the army in Germany, and Kevin Keuning of Stockton, brothers J. Charles Khan of Hollister, Richard A Khan of Morgan Hill, and sister Carol Agaliotis also of Morgan Hill. Many nieces, nephews, and cousins mourn her passing as well as her Uncle and Aunt, Donald and Barbara Raney of Ventura, CA.
Eleanor was born in Gladstone, VA, the third child of John H and Mary Raney Khan, late of Morgan Hill.
She was predeceased by sister Barbara Khan Thomas (2011) late of Fremont CA.
Eleanor grew up in Morgan Hill, graduating from Live Oak High school in 1955, and San Jose State College earning degrees in education and music She was an accomplished pianist and had a beautiful singing soprano voice. She enjoyed singing in church choirs and formed a singing trio with her two sisters; they sang in churches from Salinas to Sunnyvale.
She met her husband Kenneth Keuning while both were singing in the Stockton Choral. She then came to Mariposa as a business teacher at Mariposa High School, teaching business classes, computers, and oversaw the school newspaper and the annual.
She has been and active member or many organizations in Mariposa, the Kiwanis, the Kiwanis preschool, the historical museum, the California State Mining and Mineral museum, the American Association of University Women, and gave court house tours, to name but a few.
She was instrumental in the formation of the Mariposa symphony when she convinced Les Marsden to undertake the endeavor. She continued her singing in the Mariposa Chorus, and the Lutheran Church Choir. She played an active role in the church serving in many capacities. Eleanor will be greatly missed. Peace to her memory.
