Memorials

Carrol “Dean” Keck, 76, of Etna Troy Township, Whitley County, died at 2 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at Miller’s Merry Manor, Columbia City where he had been a resident since Monday.

He was born June 30, 1932, in Whitley County a son of Clarence W. and Vevia E. (Secrist) Keck. His formative years were spent Etna Troy Township. He graduated from North Webster High School in 1950. He received a degree from Radel College while working for Dana-Weatherhead in Syracuse.

He made his home on the family farm. He was employed at Dana-Weatherhead in Columbia City for two years, Syracuse for 22 years, Columbus, Ohio, for a year, Antwerp , Ohio, for four years, Kendallville for five years and then  retired from the Angola plant in 1987.

On June 8, 1974, he was united in marriage to Donnabelle L. Mast. They made their home in Columbus, Ohio, returning to the family farm in 1975 and later moving to Angola from 1984 until 1987.

He attended Columbia City United Methodist Church, was a member of Due Guard Lodge #278 F. & A.M. (where he received his 50 year Master Mason pin in 2008), Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite and Mizpah Shrine.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Donna; two sons, Michael D. Keck of Garrett and Douglas L. (Patricia) Keck of Phoenix, Arizona; two step sons and a step daughter, Bradley L. (Liza) Gaby of Woodland, California, Lois Ann (Donald Ray) Woods of Nappanee and Lane A. (Lisa) Gaby of Mishawaka; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and a brother, Bob Keck of Leigh Acres, Florida.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Roger Lee Keck and a grandson, Jason Michael Keck.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City with Rev. Paul Arnold, pastor of Columbia City United Methodist Church, officiating. The burial will be in Thorn Cemetery, Ormas. The visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

A Masonic service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

For those who wish, memorials may be made to American Lung Association (due to his fight with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis), Shriners Hospitals for Children or Columbia City United Methodist Church Building Fund.

Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com