Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Keister Jr., Fred D. June 25, 1958 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 7, 2010, 6:24 pm The Ionia County News, Thursday, June 26, 1958 Headline: Fred. D. Keister Jr., ‘County News’ Publisher, Dies Suddenly Here Wednesday Morning In Memoriam: The passing on of Fred Keister Jr. is a tragic blow to all who knew and appreciated his friendliness, his service and his enthusiasm for principle. For many years, with the Republican Party, he has been considered a leader who stood unwaverlingly for the convictions of our party. He did not stumble, was always there to be counted on, whether that responsibility carried work or money. His leadership went above his party obligations, however, and he continually worked for a better Ionia County, a better Ionia. What we remember him most for was his ability to bridge a gap between differences of people. He had a rare gift for finding solutions to difficult situations. We express our regrets to his family in their hour of sorrow. Emerson McCarty Ionia County Republican Chairman Headline: Courthouse to Close Honoring Fred Keister Jr. It was announced Wednesday, June 25, by the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, John Lawless, Jr., that the Ionia County Courthouse will be closed Friday noon, in memory of Mr. Fred D. Keister Jr. Fred D. Keister Jr., 728 Branch Street, Ionia, publisher of the Ionia County News for the past 22 years, died suddenly about 1:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, after a brief hospitalization at the Ionia County Memorial Hospital. He suffered a respiratory ailment, complicated by pneumonia, and had been hospitalized since Sunday morning. Fred. D. Keister, Jr. was born October 22, 1900, at Pewamo, the eldest son of Fred D. Keister Sr. and Nora Henry Keister. Commuting from Pewamo to Ionia, he graduated from the Ionia High School in 1919. A year later the family moved to Ionia. Mr. Keister started in the printing industry after his graduation from high school, and was employed for a brief time by a Grand Rapids printing firm. In 1927 he joined with his father in the founding of the Ionia County News, and was actively associated with this paper until his death. Active throughout his life in Republican politics, both on the local and state level, Mr. Keister was elected to the Ionia County Board of Supervisors, representing the second ward of Ionia since 1931. He served on the board until his death, holding the position of chairman at one time. Mr. Keister was extremely active in community affairs, serving on the Board of Directors of the Ionia Chamber of Commerce for several years until his death, and was a member of the Ionia Rotary Club. He had been a member of Ionia B.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 548 for 37 years, a member of Ionia L. O. O. M. No. 998, Ionia Legion of the Moose, Ionia County Fishing and Hunting Club, and the Ionia Country Club. Mr. Keister was active in Michigan newspaper circles as a member of the Michigan Press Association. He recently served on an MPA committee coordinating a state industrial development publicity program. He is survived by his wife, Katherine G. Keister; his son, Fred D. Keister III; his sister, Mrs. Dail W. Cox of Feasterville, Penn.; and four grand children. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, C. B. “Bill” Keister. Until time for services, the body will repose at the Boynton’s Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held Friday, June 27, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Ionia. Rev. Heath Goodwin will officiate. Burial will be in Highland Park. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/k/keisterj3776nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb