Date of death: 1/9/2024
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1957
Donald Edwin Keefer passed away peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children, on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at the wonderful age of 93. Don was born in Huntington, IN, to the late William and Mary (Scher) Keefer. They instilled in him the importance of education, Christian values, and honest hard work (values he would pass down to his own children).
He attended Our Lady of the Lake Seminary and graduated from Saint Meinrad Seminary with a degree in Philosophy, the pursuit of wisdom. After attending the Seminary, he proudly served his country in the Army during the Korean War. After the Army, God had a plan for him to meet Kay, (his future wife), and together they raised six wonderful children. In raising the children, Don had the calmest, kindest, yet stern spirit mixed in with a sense of humor.
Don was so intelligent, Kay asked him why he didn’t become a doctor. With his investigative talent, though, he became a Federal Postal Inspector and was domiciled in Chicago, IL, where innumerable cases of crime occurred. After retirement, he became Secretary of the National Association of Retired Postal Inspectors while still keeping up on instilling admirable values in his children. He was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Knights of Columbus, and head of the Best Years Club for over twenty years.
Don is survived by his wife of 65 years, Kay (Beber) and his six children, Kevin (Julie) Keefer, Karen (Bill) Sanders, Christopher Keefer, Kenneth (Anne) Keefer, Craig Keefer, and Kimberly Keefer. In addition, he was blessed with 13 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and brother-in-law, Thomas Beber.
Along with his parents he was preceded in death by one brother; Bill Keefer; and three sisters, Dorothy Wellman, Pauline Blocker and Martha Keefer.