Keith Wirth

The road of life winds through many peaks, many valleys, passing by the people and places that mark the miles, and the memories. Keith Wirth was a man who enjoyed life's journey more than anything, from the friends he made along the way, to the family who meant everything to him.

Keith's story began on a cool Halloween evening in 1951, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, as the Korean War broke the quiet peacetime following World War II. Yet on that Halloween, Clyde and Marguerite (Covert) Wirth celebrated their own little treat, the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Keith.

Keith joined his older sister Suzanne in the family's home, located in nearby Wyoming. Keith attended Godfrey - Lee Elementary Schools there, where he made a lifelong friend in the first grade with a little Dutch immigrant named Art Koelewyn. He even helped teach Art to speak English.

Eventually, Keith went on to attend Lee High School, where he graduated from in 1969, at the height of the Vietnam War. Wanting to help his country, Keith enlisted in the U.S. Marines, serving from 1970-73. Luckily for him, he had the enviable assignment of being stationed at the Kaneohe Air Station in Hawaii. He also received his Associate's degree at Windward Community College there, and later his Bachelor's of Arts degree from West Oahu University in Honolulu. He found more than an education among those palm trees, however.

While he was in Hawaii, Keith met a young woman named Patti Saunders, and the two quickly began dating. Keith and Patti soon fell in love, and were married in his hometown of Grand Rapids on October 5, 1973. He and Patti were blessed with two beautiful daughters, first Sandy in 1974, and Chelsea in 1985.

Keith worked at Mill Steel in Grand Rapids for a couple of years, until he was laid off. So he and his growing family moved back to Hawaii in 1975, where he worked for Aloha Airlines, completed his degree, and began working a number of jobs as an insurance adjuster. He also worked at Sears for awhile. In 1998, however, Keith's health took a turn for the worse, and he required triple-bypass surgery.

Sadly, he and Patti divorced in 1999, and Keith moved back to Michigan the following year, working at AAA in customer service, and later as a security guard. His worsening health caused him to take early retirement in 2002.

His passion was fishing. Keith loved all kinds of fishing, whether it was freshwater, saltwater, or even ice fishing. Before his major health issues he always led a very active life, though, and loved to play tennis, go bowling, and play billiards, or quiet games of cribbage. Keith loved all sports, and enjoyed the games on TV, too. Growing up in the 60s, Keith also loved rock music, especially the Beatles.

Sadly, Keith died Wednesday, February 7, 2007.

Keith was a wonderful man, who so enjoyed his journey through life, a journey we were so blessed to take with him. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his daughters Sandra (Joseph) Bradshaw, Chelsea Wirth and granddaugther Savannah Bradshaw. Also surviving are his sister Sue (Garth) Mann, his niece and two nephews and special friends Art Koelewyn, Bob Kladder and Maureen Paulin. Memorial services will be held 1PM Saturday, February 10, 2007 at Second Congregational United Church of Christ, 525 Cheshire NE. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center, 100 Michigan NE, 49505. To read Keith's Life Story, share a favorite memory or sign the guestbook visit www.lifestorynet.com