Surviving to mourn are his children, Kathy (Dale) Brower, Doug (Tammy) McKeever, Karen (Scott) Klingberg, and Kelly (Kevin) Rasmussen, along with grandchildren Ruthie, Travis, Darla and Dylan Brower, Shawn, Adam McKeever, Jill Mulder, Abby Klingberg, Stacey Palmberg, Kyle, Kenny, Kari, Kaden, Kathleen and Kian Rasmussen, and Lydia Carman, and great-grandchildren, Mia, Ingrid, Rowan, Elsie, Sophie, Heidi, Sam and Freyja. Also mourning his death are Paul’s brother-in-law, Dr. George Hallman, of Columbia, South Carolina, and his many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Flo (Erwin) McKeever, his parents, Harry and Camilla McKeever, by sisters in childhood, Beverly and Wilma, and his two sisters, Wanda (Jim) Rankin and Eileen (George) Hallman, and his daughter, Kandi Carman.
Paul was born on October 3, 1935, in Kewanee, Illinois, the fifth child of Harry Lewis McKeever and Carrie “Camilla“ (Reamer) McKeever, formerly of Bradford, Illinois. Ancestry came from Northern Ireland in the Sturm and Phenix families, and from France in the Gerard branch. Growing up on the farm just west of Bradford, Paul raised rabbits and collie pups, fondly remembering his dog, Rover, was a member of the Osceola 4-H, and helped with chores on the farm. He loved John Deere tractors and seeing the old thrashing demonstrations. As a youngster, Paul attended Pleasant Green School with sisters, cousins and friends, later moving to the Bradford Consolidated Grade School, and graduated Bradford High, Class of 1954.
He served in the Korean Conflict in a communications/radio position for a mobile mash unit; awarded a Good Conduct Medal. On a ship back to the states from Japan, Paul stated that he wanted to marry the first girl he met when they arrived home. Landing in Chicago, Paul spotted his Bradford friend, Pebby Scott on a busy street and hitched a ride home with him, and arriving a few days early, surprised his family, and met sister Wanda’s friends from Chicago, a quartet with Rex, Don, Tommy and Flo Erwin, who were singing that Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Bradford.
Paul married Florence Erwin on August 9, 1958, at Galilee Baptist Church, Chicago and after a Colorado honeymoon trip, lived on the Maggie Kline farm south of Bradford and Kathy was born. They moved to the Mabel Swearingen farm on Airport Road, north of Bradford and Doug, Karen, Kelly and Kandi were born. Paul and Flo farmed soybeans and corn, and raised chickens, sheep, cows, pigs and housed some of Uncle Chas/Nina Copple’s horses. Paul and Flo served as youth group leaders at First Baptist Church of Bradford. For a while, they entered training with New Tribes Mission in Rochester, PA, and then returned to Illinois where Paul worked for F.S. Farm Services, Inc. and Flo worked for the Bradford newspaper. Paul was on call as an emergency medical technician.
The week of Christmas, 1977, Paul moved his family to Saugatuck, Michigan to take the manager position at Pine Trail Camp. The McKeevers joined Immanuel Baptist Church of Holland where Paul was a board member. After the camp years, Paul and Flo moved to Holland where they were both employed at the new Evergreen Commons senior center. In “retirement years” Paul worked at Castex, Oakcrest assisted living where he drove their tour van, and for a time drove for Cardinal Bus Co. He had a strong work ethic and his life will be measured by the importance of his faith in God and influence on many people throughout his life. To his grandchildren, he was the ultimate role model.
Visitation will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Lakeshore Memorial Services chapel, 11939 James St., Holland, MI 49424. The funeral service will take place on Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Immanuel Church, 325 104th Ave., Holland, MI 49423. Memorial gifts may be given to Gateway, the Holland city mission, or to John and Jennifer Young of Wycliffe Bible Translators at Wycliffe.org, or mailed to Wycliffe at P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862-8200.
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