Harold “Bud” Keller was revered by his wife, Debra, as a “real gem.” The two knew each other for 15 years but were married for just two. Mr. Keller, 51, died Tuesday, Aug. 31, in Sherman Hospital in Elgin of Wegener’s granulomatosis, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the lungs and kidneys. Mr. Keller was a self-taught carpenter and general contractor and owner of Paragon Homes, a custom home building company he ran out of his Elgin home. He built custom homes in and around Sleepy Hollow and Elgin. He was born in the Wicker Park area. In his early 20s he worked as a driver for Old Style and Coca-Cola. For a time while living in Ft. Myers, Fla., he owned a mailbox installation business. Mr. Keller and his wife enjoyed traveling to Key West, Fla. He was a Jimmy Buffet fan, described by his wife as a true “Parrot Head” with a great sense of humor. He also enjoyed finance and investing as a hobby. Before moving to Elgin, where he met his wife who was then a neighbor, he lived in La Crosse, Wis. Other survivors include two sons, Marcus and Curtis; and two daughters, Joanna Mellen and Jacqueline Keller. Services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in the Faith Lutheran Church, Helm and Navajo Roads in Carpentersville.
