Keith E. Switzer Sr.

COWDEN - Keith E. Switzer Sr. 83, of Cowden, IL, passed away Wednesday May 4, 2011 in St. Louis University Hospital in St Louis, MO. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Monday May 9, 2011 in the First Christian Church of Cowden. Pastor Tim Boyd will officiate. Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 PM Sunday in the Church. Burial will be in Mound Cemetery, Cowden. Arrangements are entrusted to Lockart-Green Funeral Home in Cowden. Memorials can be made to the First Christian Church of Cowden or the Lutheran Care Center in Altamont, IL. Military rites will be performed by the Shelby County Honor Guard. On line condolences may be directed to the family at www.lockartgreenfuneralhome.com. Keith was born August 21, 1927 in Pana, IL the son of Rex Eugene and Jessie Randall Switzer. He married Nancy Venturini on Dec. 16, 1950 in Chicago, IL. Keith served his country during the Korean War in Korea as a serviceman in the United States Air Force. After serving, he came home to the Cowden area and worked several different jobs. He then started, owned and operated Switzer's Grocery Store in Cowden for 18 years and the Cowden Video Store. For a while, he was employed by the Illinois Department of Transportation Division of Highways. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Cowden, the Cowden Rotary Club and was a life member of the Roy Vanderpool Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 4829 of Shelbyville. He loved NASCAR, gardening, traveling and a good western movie. Keith was a great fan of the Chicago Cubs. He was an unselfish and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother. Surviving are his wife Nancy; children: Jerry Switzer and wife Rita of Sunrise, FL, Deborah Dunaway and husband Tim of Cowden, Denise Evans and husband Joe of Cowden, Paul Switzer and wife Rebecca of Crown Point, IN and Jennifer Burrus and husband Brian of Cowden; 16 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren and one great great grand child; sister Sandy Giles and husband Dean of Beecher City; brother Willis "Butch" McElroy of Cowden. He was preceded in death by his son Keith Jr., parents, and brothers: Marty Switzer, Donny McElroy and Terry McElroy. Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at http://legacy.com/obituaries/herald-review/