Honoring Tradition.
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Keith Brower

November 8, 1938 - December 6, 2020
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Tuesday, December 8, 2020
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Remembrance Church
4575 Remembrance Rd NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
(616) 453-7700

Masks and social distancing required

Map
Web Site

Visitation

Wednesday, December 9, 2020
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST
Remembrance Church
4575 Remembrance Rd NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
(616) 453-7700

Masks and social distancing required.

Map
Web Site

Service

Wednesday, December 9, 2020
4:00 PM EST
Live Stream
Remembrance Church
4575 Remembrance Rd NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534
(616) 453-7700

Masks and social distancing required.

Map
Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Remembrance Church Mission Fund
4575 Remembrance Rd NW
Grand, MI

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Kind and caring, Keith Laverne Brower lived a life centered on faith and rich in family. A man who embodied the principles of his faith, Keith embraced every moment as a gift and every person as a friend. Keith possessed a wonderful sense of humor and consistent ease of spirit that ensured others’ comfort. He led with his heart, freely giving of his time and talents in the service of others. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and faithful servant, Keith’s legacy will long live in the lives of those who were blessed to know him.

Though 1938 held much to celebrate, including President Roosevelt’s signing of The Fair Standards Act, Hollywood’s film version of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” and Seabiscuit’s astonishing “Race of the Century” win, the continued challenges of the Great Depression coupled with the systematic persecution of Jews in Europe, spread concern and fear across the globe. Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression and the growing conflict in Europe, many families found the way to continue to center their lives in love and hope for a brighter future. Nowhere was that hope more evident than in the home of Nicholas G. and Garrietta (Timmer) Brower, of Burnips, Michigan, as they welcomed their son, Keith, into their hearts and home on November 8.

The middle of the 11 Brower children, Keith grew up in a busy and resourceful household. While his mother managed the home, Keith’s father was a farmer. From his earliest days, Keith enjoyed the good company and support of his many siblings. Keith’s first friends, Gillis, Alvin, Glen, Justin, Norwin, Paul, Melvin, James, Bernard, and Gloria, forged close relationships working the farm, helping around the house, and playing together. They came to recognize that when a car with an M.D. license plate arrived, they would soon be welcoming a new sibling. Winters were warmed by the coal and wood-burning stove, as well as sledding and playing winter sports. The family enjoyed the tradition of waking on Christmas morning to find one gift on each of their plates. The warmer months often found Keith getting together with friends to play baseball, prisoner’s goal, or kick the can. Keith attended school in Maple Grove, 1.5 miles from Burnips, through the 10th grade when he left school to work on the farm.

Fate gifted Keith with the blessing of meeting Sharon Johnson while visiting the Holland State Park. Instantly smitten, Keith and Sharon began dating and soon set their hearts on sharing the future. On July 18, 1958, the happy couple married at Wyoming Baptist Church and honeymooned to Niagra Falls.

The newlyweds made their first home on Marion St NW. As they were blessed to welcome children into their family and their needs changed, they moved to Dayton and finally settled on Luray Ave NW. Together, Keith and Sharon worked to provide Susan, Scott, Todd, and Timothy, a loving and supportive home. Keith worked for General Motors for 35 years, providing his family with many comforts. When the kids were young, Keith attended an evangelism revival that ignited a fire for evangelism in him. His faith proved a firm foundation upon which Keith consciously chose to build the rest of his life. Though he was willing to give the kids the discipline they earned, he was also a loving father who regularly prayed for his children. The family explored and celebrated their faith with the fellowship at Remembrance Church. For many years, Keith and Sharon served as Youth Foundation Leaders. Keith was also involved in Campus Crusade for Christ and the Jail Ministry.

The family enjoyed many traditions. For years they celebrated Christmas with their extended Brower family at the Borculo School Gym, and Friday nights, Sharon made pizza for Scott and Sue. Later Tim and Todd would go to Wendy’s with their parents. Keith never cooked, and his favorite restaurants were A&W and McDonald’s. He also enjoyed listening to country or Christian music and watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday nights.

Favorite family memories include a trip to Opryland, where they road the Screamin’ Delta Demon and watched Boxcar Willie until he began cursing. Impromptu trips to catch a Detroit Tigers game, traveling to Niagara Falls, and taking the Amtrak train to visit Uncle Bernie and Aunt Mary in Lynden, Washington, proved good times as well. Many of the family’s memories have become legendary tales. Once, as the family made their way to church for family pictures, Tim inspired the need for Keith’s sharp elbow. Unfortunately, the discipline resulted in Tim losing a tooth. Another time, Keith quickly ran up the stairs to wash out his eye after accidentally getting Drano in it while cleaning out the drain, only to find Todd on the pot.

Sadly, just eleven months after being diagnosed with Lymphoma, Sharon died on April 14, 1998. Keith faced her loss by leaning into his faith and family. In time, he was blessed to meet Karen (Briegel) Kamstra at church. They dated for a time and married at the old Remembrance Church on September 10, 1999. After celebrating their nuptials with a honeymoon to the Shenandoah Valley, in Virginia, they made their home on Rolling Ridge Lane NW. Keith was additionally blessed to gain the gift of Karen’s children and their families.

Over the years, Keith and Karen enjoyed their active membership at Remembrance Church, eating at Olive Garden, gathering with family in Shipshewana, Indiana, and traveling in their RV. They made annual trips to Marco Island, Florida, and spent a summer week at CranHill Ranch, a fun and fulfilling Christian Camp in Big Rapids, Michigan. Keith always welcomed the opportunity to share his faith with others, especially his favorite Bible passage from I John 5:10-13.

As Keith’s health required more support, he moved to Yorkshire Manor, a faith-based senior care facility. While there, he contracted COVID and died on December 6, 2020. Without a doubt, the world feels less certain in the absence of Keith’s steadfast presence. May we find much comfort in carrying his legacy of faith and love forward. With each moment we gather together, cheer on the Tigers, listen to the Gaither Brothers, read from Keith’s treasured bible, and share our faith with others, we celebrate the many ways Keith gifted our lives. In so doing, we keep his memory alive and inspiring others as he so inspired us.

Keith LaVerne Brower, age 82, of Grand Rapids, heard Jesus declare “Well done, good and faithful servant” on December 6, 2020. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sharon Brower; parents, Nicholas (Garrieta) Brower; brothers, Gill (Ida) Brower, Glen (Ruth) Brower, Alvin Brower, Melvin Brower and Jimmy Brower; sisters-in-law, Marcia Brower and Phyllis Brower; brothers-in-law, Richard Briegel, Bob (Ruth) Johnson and Jerry Johnson. Keith is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Karen Brower; children, Sue (Ron) Plooster, Scott (Brenda) Brower, Dr.Todd (Jennifer) Brower and COL Timothy (Melanie) Brower, Dan (Teresa) Kamstra, Karla (Doug) Kloostra and Brian (Nancy) Kamstra; grandchildren, Sarah (Phillip) Winslow, Katelin (Mark) Oconnor, David (Lauren) Brower, Anneliese Brower, Eliana Brower, Benjamin Brower, Elizabeth Brower, Joshua Brower, Deborah Brower, Timothy Brower, Isaiah Brower, Caleb Brower, Abigail Brower, Katie (Nick) Kragt, Travis (Josie) Kamstra, Tyler (Rachel Grypma) Kamstra, Karah Kamstra, Trent Kamstra, Rylee (Taylor) Kloostra, Sarah (Brent) Weaver, Jared Kloostra, Eric Kloostra; Bryce Kamstra and Brittany Kamstra; and 14 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings, Justin Brower, Nort (Jane) Brower, Paul (Esther) Brower, Bernie (Mary) Brower, and Gloria (Ron) Zylstra; brothers-in-law, Ronald (Peggy) Briegel, Randy (Dawn) Briegel, and Ryan (Dee) Briegel; sisters-in-law, Dottie Johnson and Pat Briegel and many nieces and nephews.

The Celebration of Life service will take place at 4 PM on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at Remembrance Church, 4575 Remembrance Rd NW (Masks and social distancing required). Visitation will take place at church from 5-8 PM on Tuesday and 2-4 PM on Wednesday (Masks and social distancing required). Contributions in Keith’s memory may be made to Remembrance Church Mission Fund. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to read Keith’s life story, submit a favorite memory, photo, or sign the guestbook online.

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