MEET JOE KIEFER, “A TRUE PUBLIC SERVANT”
written by ERIC BYFORD
APRIL 26, 2025
A true native of Evansville, Joe Kiefer is a man built from the ground up on a strong foundation of faith and family. As a community leader, Mr. Keifer traces his success back to his upbringing’s emphasis of serving God, loving family and living with a servant’s heart. He states growing up in a big family blessed him with the necessary communication skills and understanding of how to work with others.
Mr. Keifer took his interest in construction and real estate to college, graduating from Indiana State University with B.S. degree in Construction Management, a Master’s in Public Administration, and a Master’s in Arts & Liberals Studies from the University of Southern Indiana. Stepping out of college into the public workforce, he joined Regency in the early 2000s, then Gene Hahn at Haun Realty Corporation in 2008 as a general partner, ultimately buying the business in 2014 creating Hahn Keifer Real Estates Services. HKRES has built a reputation as a leader in the Indiana real industry, winning several awards including Small Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce.
Following his servant’s heart, Mr. Keifer joined the Evansville City Council as an Elected Official for twenty-four years. He says he loved giving back to his community and being available to mentor others. His favorite memory from serving the city for all those years, “was helping an elderly woman getting a dead tree cut down” and “telling me Thank You, I can sleep better now knowing it won’t fall on my house.”
“It really is the small things that make the world go round”, says Keifer.
Mr Keifer is a devoted husband to Jo Ann and proud father of 4 adult children and a ‘tickled to death’ grandfather of nine. He says his favorite times are spent on the lake with his family. Mr. Keifer is a faithful member of St. Benedict Cathedral.
Mr Keifer states he loves witnessing Evansville continue to grow, build on its successes and embrace all the future holds for the city. Coming from humble beginnings to helping navigate the city’s growth, I don’t know if you will meet a prouder man to call Evansville home.
If you see him out and the opportunity presents itself, chocolate ice cream is his all-time favorite.
