George Keith Simpson

A Celebration of Keith’s Life will be held from 12-3 p.m., Saturday, November 12th at the Newton Moose Lodge 923, 2233 S. 24th Ave. W. in Newton. A second Celebration of Keith’s Life will be held at a later date in Oklahoma.

Memorials in Keith’s name (Please make checks payable to Joyce Simpson) may be left at the Celebration of Life or they may be left at or mailed to the Wallace Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Newton.

George Keith Simpson, the eighth of nine children born to George A. and Wilma Spears Simpson on June 24, 1947 in Yale, Oklahoma. He grew up having strong family values, hard work ethics and a willingness to help others.

After graduating from Quay High School, he became a journeyman pipefitter and married his high school sweetheart, Carol. They were blessed with a daughter, Denise.

When a job opportunity with the Maytag Company in Newton, Iowa became available, Keith took the job and moved to Newton.

On October 10, 1980, Keith was united in marriage with Joyce. This marriage gave him the opportunity to be a “Stepped Up Dad” to two children, Dwane & Lori.

During the past 42 years, there were very few dull moments. He loved hunting, fishing, and traveling.  It gave him great joy to teach his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews how to fish and hunt.  

After retiring from Maytag, he had a bucket list of careers; from being a Blackjack dealer to driving an armored car. When Keith completed his AA Degree he became a welding instructor at DMACC.  He had the opportunity to set up the welding department at DMACC's Newton Campus.  One of his proudest moments was taking one of his welding students to compete in the Skills Competition at the world finals.

Keith never let the distance between Iowa and Oklahoma keep him from the strong family values he was raised with. He enjoyed the family camping trips, hunting trips and the old-fashioned family get-togethers, earning him the title of “Favorite Uncle.”

Keith was always there for anyone in need and he could tell stories that you would wish would never end.

Keith went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, November 4, 2022 at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was 75. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Wynonna, Werdna, Hobart, Maxine, Elmer Ray and Molly.

Those left to honor Keith’s memory are his wife, Joyce; children, Denise Butler (Russell Dawson), Dwane (Nancy) Brown and Lori (Willie) Taylor; his grandchildren, Brandon Taylor (Carrie Martinez), Destiny (Ervin) Dickerson, Cortney Taylor, Brittany (Zack) VanderBeek, Kessiah Taylor (Nate Smith) and Derek Brown (Brooke Tucker); eleven great-grandchildren with one on the way; his sisters, Marjorie Kelly and Kay Smith; and his many nieces and nephews.

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