James “Jim” “B.J.” Keeney, age 70, of Mt Hope passed away on Tuesday Oct. 1, 2019 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in LaCrosse. He was born on December 1, 1948 in Lancaster the son of Daniel and Alice (Waterman) Keeney.
Jim graduated from West Grant High School in 1966. He attended the LaCrosse Technical College and received his Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Jim worked for Keeney Motors, then Prairie Industries in Prairie du Chien, until going to work at Rayovac until his retirement in 2014. He was a past member and former chief of the Mt. Hope Fire Department. Jim loved hunting, tractors, helping out with the Keeney race team, and working with anything that had an engine. He also enjoyed playing pool and looked forward to spending time with his teammates each week shooting for Home-A-Gin’s, Pine Tree, and Bob’s Bar. Jim had a passion for life, loved each morning, noon, and especially night. He enjoyed telling stories, making friends and loved to make people smile.
Jim is survived by his two brothers; Milton (Doris) Keeney, and Paul (Lois) Keeney, sister-in-law Carolyn Keeney, seven nephews; Bob (Mary) Keeney, Dan (Karen) Keeney, Steve (Mary) Keeney, Gary (Lisa) Keeney, Scott (Becky) Keeney, Troy (Nicole) Keeney, Jeff (Barb) Keeney, three nieces; Sandy (Robert) Hull, Kris (Pat) Hubanks, Elizabeth Keeney and her husband Skip Hansen.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, sister-Kathy Ann Keeney, brother Edwin Keeney, nephew David (Marie) Keeney, and his former wife Cindy Palmer.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday October 5, 2019 at the Mt. Hope United Methodist Church in Mt. Hope with burial to follow in the Prairie Cemetery in Fennimore. Visitation will be held from 4-7:00 P.M. on Friday October 4, 2019 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 9:00 A.M. until time of service at the church on Saturday morning. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established in loving memory of James Keeney.