Edward Keefe, 88

Edward Francis Keefe, 88 years of age, and after a very full life, passed away on Friday, May 9, 2014 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan.  He was born in Columbus, Ohio on October 27, 1925 to Edward J. and Mary Frances (Scallen) Keefe.  He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Columbus in 1943.  Edward enlisted in the United State Navy in 1943 and was admitted to the prestigious V12 Officers Training Program.  He attended Notre Dame University, Iowa State University and Midshipman’s School, graduating in 1945 with the rank of Ensign.  He served on the USS Gratiot in the Pacific and witnessed Hiroshima after the nuclear bomb.  He was discharged in 1946.  Edward then attended the Ohio State University College of Business, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing.  In 1949, he was employed in Sales and Marketing in the Electrical Products Division of 3M, specializing in industrial magnets.  He continued working for 3M until his retirement as a Senior Account Executive in 1988.  Edward married Rita R. (Rulman) Brace on May 16, 1981.  They lived in Bowling Green and Perrysburg, Ohio and Savannah, Georgia.  They moved to Bryan in 1996 and to Independence Village in Petoskey, Michigan in 2013.  He was a member of Orchard Hills Country Club and St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bryan.  Ed’s favorite hobby was golf.  His most enjoyable years were those spent golfing on Skidaway Island near Savannah.  He was a dedicated loving husband and father who was very proud of all his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Rita R. Keefe of Petoskey, Michigan; four children, MaryAnn Roos of Cincinnati, Ohio, Daniel Keefe of West Palm Beach, Florida, James (Carol) Keefe of Indianapolis, Indiana and Margaret “Peggy” (Mark) Schroering of Greenwood, Indiana; his stepchildren, Jack (Amy) Brace of Bryan, Ohio and JoEllen (James) Rudolph of Petoskey, Michigan; daughter-in-law, Denise Keefe of Cincinnati, Ohio; thirteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with another on the way.  His oldest son, Kevin Keefe and son-in-law, Rod Roos preceded him in death.

Visitation for Edward Francis Keefe will be held Monday, May 19, 2014 beginning at 11:00 a.m. in St. Patrick Catholic Church, 610 Portland Street, Bryan, Ohio, followed by a Memorial Mass at 12:00 p.m. with Father Jim Halleron officiating.  Interment will follow in Brown Cemetery, Bryan, Ohio.  Arrangements are under the care of Oberlin-Turnbull Funeral Home, Bryan, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the memorial scholarship for Edward’s deceased son, Kevin E. Keefe Memorial Scholarship Fund, St. Xavier High School, 600 North Bend Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45224, or to the Bryan Area Foundation for the St. Patrick Catholic Church Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 651, Bryan, Ohio 43506.