Jon Ramon Keller: 8-18-1938 to 2-10-2010

Jon Ramon Keller, 71, passed away Feb 10, 2010 at Oaklawn Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Born 18 Aug 1938 in Nevada, Missouri, he was the son of William Everett and Sara Glenn (Glick) Keller.

On 13 Feb 1960, he was married to Gloria Gwen Wheeler in McLennan Co., Texas. They were divorced in 1965. To this union were born two children, Brenda Ann and Audrey Jane. On 17 Jun 1969, he married Meryle Lynn Bigham in Wichita Co., Texas and they were divorced in 1970. They had no children. On 5 Dec 1970, he married Marie Charity Boyd in Larned, Kansas. They were divorced in 1975. To this union one child was born, Tanya Mae. On 20 Aug 1977, he married Kathryn Faye Smith in Larned, Kansas. To this union one child was born, Kristofer Sean.

Jon joined the Air Force in 1956 and spent 13 years in the Air Force Band, playing the trumpet, cymbals and oboe. In 1972, he joined the Kansas Army National Guard, Larned, Kansas as a medic. In 1981, he transferred to the Kansas Air National Guard, Wichita, Kansas as a medic. In 1990, he transferred to the Michigan Air National Guard in Battle Creek, Michigan and was in charge of the medical clinic. He retired from the military in 1993. He had been a Marshall resident since 1994.

He graduated from Barton Co. Community College, Great Bend, Kansas, in 1979 with an Associate's Degree in Nursing and has been a registered nurse in Kansas and Michigan since 1979. In 1993, he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Administration from Kansas Newman College, Wichita, Kansas.

As a registered nurse he worked in a number of fields including, occupational nursing, geriatric nursing, psychiatric nursing, home health care, medical-surgical nursing, call center triage, and he worked casual with a number of nursing agencies, include Battle Creek Health Systems and Oaklawn Hospital. He retired from the Veterans Administration in 2005.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Marshall, Michigan and was the church treasurer for a little over a year.

His favorite past times included golf, fishing, reading (mostly mystery novels), and working crossword puzzles. He loved to tell stories about his family. He also loved to tell jokes and always seemed to have one to tell to anyone that would listen.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Kathryn "Kate", Marshall, Michigan; three daughters, Brenda (Darrell) Hamilton, Garden City, Kansas; Audrey (Larry) Thornburg, California; and Tanya Smith, Kansas; one son, Kristofer (LeeAnna) Keller, Battle Creek, Michigan; one brother, Melvin Joe, Pawnee Rock, Kansas and an uncle, Gary Don (Sharon) Glick, San Jose, California. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A wake will be conducted at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home, 723 Old US 27 North, Marshall, Michigan on Sunday, February 14, 2010 from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted at Zion Lutheran Church, 135 W. Green St., Marshall, Michigan, Monday, February 15, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Roger James officiating. Military graveside services will be conducted at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek, Michigan on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 11:30.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made through the funeral home to the Zion Lutheran Church or the Cancer Care Center at Battle Creek Health Systems.

Check out my "Tribute to My Husband, Jon" slideshow in the side panel.