Eleanor Eileen Keiper, age 76, of Fruitland Park, FL and Hackensack, MN passed away peacefully on June 10, 2020 in Florida. Daughter of Eugene Lawrence Harnen and Claire Romanofski Kelly, Eleanor was born on April 16, 1944 in Chicago, IL.

Eleanor will be forever remembered by her loving husband, James Keiper, daughter Julie (Mark Scott) Keiper of Waynesville, NC, daughter Patti Keiper of Hopkins, MN, sister Barbara Powell of Phoenix, and three grandchildren, Chelsea Zacher of Missoula, Montana; Chloe (Jay) Thurman of Fort Walton Beach, FL and Alex Zacher of Waynesville, NC as well as eleven nieces and nephews and many dear friends. She is predeceased by her brother, Eugene Harnen and newborn daughter Carol Lee.

Eleanor was a gifted poet of prose and children's poetry and a fond collector of teddy bears, especially antique mohair bears. She published her lifelong collection of works in a book titled, Journeys Into Poetry. Eleanor worked as a credit analyst for numerous companies as well as a proud co-owner of the family business, Accent Arts in Minneapolis, MN. Eleanor's favorite places include her poetry studio at her summer home in Hackensack, MN, her beautiful winter home on Lake Griffin in Fruitland Park, FL , the beachfront condo at Makani A Kai in Maui, the Haleakala crater on Maui, and the willow trees at the family home in Chanhassen, MN.

Eleanor wishes to spend eternity in Maui, so her ashes will be spread in Hawaii at a later date. In lieu of flowers , donations are requested to Struthers Parkinson's Center in Minneapolis, MN.

I consider myself a "fireside writer", just now taking the time to indulge myself with the music of the written word. Retired and loving it. The slower pace has given me time to truly look around me.

I see poetry everywhere I look. If I can inspire children to imagine pictures from my written word, my epitaph will be, "She has succeeded." The torch has been passed.

Best Poems and Poetry of 2003, International Library Poetry Anthology, Featured in Literature for the Parkinson's Disease Walkathon, 1 ^st place winner, poetry contest – Central Florida Library – Sorrento, FL. Member of Writers on the Grill, Mt. Dora Florida, 2007-2009 anthology. Self-published books of children's poetry, "A Little Book of Poetry I & II – Luv Ya, Mom" which invites the reader to become the illustrator of each poem.

Just a little note to mark my passing No gathering of family or friends to see me at less than my best ALL PROMISES KEPT You can visit me on the beach at Makani A Kai in Hawaii on Maui Maui is the best Maui nō ka 'oi