Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Williams, Keith Ackerman July 18, 2011
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Nanette Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com May 28, 2013, 5:12 pm

Ionia Sentinel Standard - July 26, 2011


Keith Ackerman Williams died suddenly July 18, 2011, in Traverse City. He was 
91.

Born May 9, 1920, in Ludington Keith was one of seven children born to Allan M. 
Williams and Esther Ackerman Williams.

He grew up in Ionia, graduating from Ionia High School in 1938. He attended 
Michigan State College for two years before being drafted into the military. He 
served in Gen. George S. Patton’s field artillery observation battalion under 
the 15th Corps of the Third Army. The day the war ended in Europe, Keith was 
located at Obersalzberg, Austria, home of the “Eagle’s Nest,” Hitler’s alpine 
retreat.

Keith and his four brothers, Richard, Ben, Colin and Robin, all served their 
country during the war, and afterward they all returned home.

In 1948, Keith moved to Traverse City as representative of Telford and Doolen 
Equipment Co. of Lansing. He often joked that he sold the very first street 
sweeper to the City of Traverse City. Later, he worked for the Dow Chemical Co. 
on Aug. 28, 1954, he married Mary Helen Shaffer at First Christian Church in 
Lansing. Together, they were owners of Grand Traverse Motel for nearly 30 years.

Keith served on the boards of the Northwestern Michigan Symphony (now TSO) and 
the Salvation Army and was a member of the Traverse City Kiwanis Club. He was 
fond of classical organ music and was influential in bringing the magnificent 
Casavant Frères pipe organ to the First Congregational Church. 

Indefatigably social, Keith participated in numerous coffee gatherings on a 
daily basis and pedaled a bicycle around his neighborhood as recently as last 
week.

He had a remarkable memory for people, places and events, and for bringing 
vivid, detailed recollections of the past into the present. His wit was quick 
and quirky. He was a 13th- generation American and member of the genealogical 
organization, “David Ackerman Descendants 1662.” Keith was a Packard and Edsel 
auto enthusiast.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen; his sons, John Robert Williams (Terrie 
Taylor) and David G. Williams (Edward Galindo) ; grandsons, Evan Baxter 
Williams and Colin Baxter Williams; his sister, Honor Lofstrom; brother, Robin 
Williams, all of Traverse City; his brothers, Ben Williams, of Rapid City, and 
Colin (Eleanor) Williams, of Saranac; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Richard; and one sister, 
Kathleen.

A gathering for family and friends will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on 
Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, at the Taylor/Williams home.

Memorial can be directed to the Dendrinos Memorial Chapel at the Interlochen 
Center for the Arts, PO Box 199, Interlochen, MI 49643, or to the Organ Fund at 
the First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686.



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