Thomas R. Keller

May 24, 1926 - July 3, 2021

Thomas R. Keller passed suddenly from this world on Saturday, July 3, 2021, at 95 years of age, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Tom was born in South Whitley, IN, at the old Jellison townhome on May 24, 1926, and is preceded in death by his wife of nearly 71 years, Gladys (Evon) Keller, who passed away on March 11; his parents, Nina Jessie (Jellison) and Claude E. Keller, and his siblings Marjorie (Charles) Grannell, Foster (Mary) Keller, Barbara (Keith) Klopfenstein, Philip Keller, and Patricia (Jerry) Lawlor.

Tom attended James Monroe Grade School, where he was point guard on the city championship basketball team, and graduated from Riley High School in South Bend, class of 1944. He was by trade a draftsman, then a land surveyor, and then named Deputy County Surveyor for St. Joseph County, IN, serving for 43 years in the administrations of both political parties. Tom was known for his meticulous surveying diaries, drawings, and notes, which are still the guiding historical record for the County today.

Tom married the love of his life, Gladys Mae Evon, on August 26, 1950, at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church in South Bend. They joined Holy Family Catholic Church, where their five children attended grade school, and where they remained members for the rest of their lives. Together, Gladys and Tom set to work building a beautiful house from scratch, both pumping water from the well, and brushing their teeth outside—even in winter—until the house progressed. They lived in the home for nearly their entire married life, only moving when old age made it impossible to stay.

Tom was a Renaissance man who was a skilled artist, builder, engineer, architect, horticulturist, naturalist, sportsman, and teacher to his children, as well as role model to his many nephews, nieces, and grandkids. He taught his children building, hunting, fishing, archery, beekeeping, gardening, grafting fruit trees, how to enjoy camping, and many other things—without them ever realizing they were being instructed. What he gave his family will be passed on to future generations.

His passion for history, particularly the discoveries and adventures of the explorers Lewis and Clark, LaSalle, Father Sorin, and the Miami and Potawatomi Indian tribes, seemed to be always on his mind. When not surveying, making birdhouses for the family, monitoring his fruit trees, watching Notre Dame Football or Chicago Cubs Baseball, he would be reading and talking about the Journals of Lewis and Clark.

When Tom retired in May 1989, he and Gladys enjoyed life as snowbirds, Tom spending winters playing golf and horseshoes at Citrus Park in Bonita Springs, FL, and later in Winterville, NC, always returning home for Easter. Tom earned the title of the Park horseshoe champion for more than five consecutive years and proudly displayed his trophies.

As the patriarch of the Keller family Tom was so deeply loved by his family. His gentle, soft spoken and humble manner, as well as his wonderful sense of humor, will be forever remembered. Tom was the sweetest man his loved ones ever knew.

Tom is survived by his five children, Tim (Karen) of Grand Haven, MI; Kathee Kiesselbach, of Mishawaka, IN; Bob (Mary) of Granger, IN; Mike (Cheryl) of Winterville, NC; and Tom of Washington, DC and New Canaan, CT. He also leaves behind his much-loved grandchildren: Elizabeth, Jennifer, Katherine, Daniel, David, Jason, Rachael, Abby, Caleb, Jason Lewis, Jamie, Jaclyn, Sarah and Mike, along with 16 great-grandchildren. Tom is also survived by his younger brother Roger (Annette) Keller of Ozark, AL.

Visitation for Tom will be held at 11:30 am (10:30 am for family) to 12:30 pm on Monday, July 12, 2021, at Saint Joseph Funeral Home on Mayflower Rd. South Bend. A requiem Mass will follow at 1:00 pm in Holy Family Catholic Church, after which proceeding to Highland Cemetery for burial.

Condolences may be made at www.sjfh.net

07.10.2021  djb

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