Keith Pratt

If you visited the Choo Choo Grill for morning coffee, you probably knew Keith Pratt. Keith understood what was important in life – family, friends and faith in your fellow man. Blessed with a wonderful tenor singing voice and a unique sense of humor, Keith left his mark wherever he went.

Although World War I was on the horizon in 1914, most Americans were going about their daily lives. Those who had $550 were driving around in a new Model-T touring car. Steak was 25 cents a pound and a loaf of bread was just 6 cents. For George and Ethel (VanderVorm) Pratt, the birth of their second child meant watching their finances even closer. Keith Frederick Pratt was born on October 29, 1914, joining his older sister Amelia, and making the Pratt family complete.

The Pratts lived on the northeast side of Grand Rapids and George supported his family working as a carpenter. As a boy, Keith joined a group of scouts known as Sea Scouts, where the members learned about ships and sailing. However, with his musical talent, Keith soon became a member of the Scout band, playing the saxophone. His interest in band continued on into high school, where he had the opportunity to be the Drum Major for the Creston High School Band. Besides playing the saxophone, Keith had a wonderfully rich singing voice and sang in many different quartets and church choirs. He especially liked to sing hymns. But music wasn’t his only area of interest – Keith also loved to play tennis and ping-pong. He graduated from Creston in 1932.

Shortly after graduating, some friends had a young lady friend they wanted Keith to meet. Her name was Elsie. The two were introduced and a friendship began. After dating for some time, the friendship grew into love. On December 10, 1938 Keith and Elsie promised to “love, honor and cherish”, promises that they kept for the next 60 years until Elsie’s death in July of 1999. Their wedding day was a memory Keith lovingly cherished.

Keith and Elsie were a perfect match – Elsie loved to cook and Keith loved to eat. Both had developed a strong work ethic paired with a determination to get things done, the right way first, taking no short cuts. Things were done “by the book”. Keith and Elsie were blessed with 4 wonderful sons, Philip, Timothy (who died in infancy), Dan and David. His family was very important to Keith and he loved spending time with them. Favorite times were family dinners, when all were gathered around the table; working together to complete a project; going on family vacations to Canada, the east coast, south to Kentucky and Tennessee; and getting up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning to go fishing. These are the things that make a family.

Keith followed in his father’s footsteps and became a carpenter. He never retired. At the age of 89 he was still working on many small projects for family and friends. When he finally stopped driving in the fall of 2004, he “retired”, only because he had no way to get to his shop anymore.

During his 91years of life, Keith had many interests and hobbies that he enjoyed. There was always a dog around the house, usually following the kids wherever they went. When not working, he loved to fish, as evidenced by the early Saturday mornings. If he wasn’t fishing, Keith could be found in his gardens, tending the vegetable and flowers growing there. Many times he would pick fresh corn straight from his garden and take it to Fingers Restaurant, where they would cook it for him. When venturing farther away from home, the Amtrak train was his mode of transportation, carrying him throughout the United States and Canada. Canada was a preferred destination, but the giant sequoias of California were also a special sight.

As mentioned before, Keith liked to eat – just about anything. If given a choice, he often indulged in fresh fish, fudge, caramel corn, pecan rolls and Yesterdog hot dogs. He had a unique sense of humor, something that endeared him to all he met. In the last few years he began watching NASCAR racing with his sons. And just in case his woodworking skills were needed, Keith kept a collection of carpentry tools of all kinds, along with a selection of hardwood, all waiting for his skilled hands to mold them into something beautiful.

Keith Pratt will be remembered not only for his love of God and family but also for the beauty he brought to Grand Rapids. He built over 100 homes in the area as well as commercial buildings, including Yesterdog, where he continued to fix things and Arnie’s on Leonard Street. His memory will live on in the hearts and minds of all those he touched.

Mr. Keith Frederick Pratt, died March 16, 2005. He was predeceased by his parents, George and Ethel, his wife, Elsie, sons, Philip and Timothy and a great granddaughter, Christina Reeder. He is survived by a sister, Amelia Cole of Mackinaw City, sons Dan (Irene) and David of Grand Rapids, daughter-in-law Donnette (Buzz) Kugel and a special “son of the heart” Bill Lewis. Also surviving are four granddaughters, Kimberly (John) Kamenar of Tampa, FL, Trisha (Steve) Reeder of Grand Blanc, Tanya (Dave) VanDam of Hudsonville and Tamila (Chad) Livingston of Grand Rapids, five great grandsons, Caleb, Justin, Trevor, John III and Sean and two great granddaughters, Jenna and Brynn, sisters-in-law Lucille (Ed) VanderSloot and Doris Buyze and many nieces and nephews. Thanks to the Butterworth staff for their loving care during his last hospitalization. A celebration of life service will be held at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien–Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave. NE, on Monday, March 21, 2005 at 11:00 AM with Dr. Thurman Rynbrandt officiating. Interment will be in Fairplains Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet with Keith’s family at the funeral home on Saturday from 7-9 PM and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Please visit Keith’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share your memories of him or make a contribution to the American Heart Association.