Waldo Thomas Keating

TRAVERSE CITY — Waldo Thomas Keating was born Sept. 16, 1930, in Petoskey, to Bertha and Frank Keating. Known as "Wheels" for his running ability on the football field, he attended Central Michigan University, where he played football, earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and met his beloved wife, Marcia.

Waldo began his career at Muskegon Catholic Central in 1953, where he taught biology and coached several sports. In 1964, he left MCC for Muskegon Mona Shores. He returned to MCC as the head football coach and Athletic Director two years later.

He earned his master's degree in counseling from Western Michigan University.

In 1971, he moved to Traverse City to become the head football coach and Assistant Principal at St. Francis High School. There he coached his team to win the Class "D" State Football Championship in 1973. In the following year, he became the Assistant Principal at Traverse City Central High School. During his tenure at TCC, he particularly enjoyed interacting with students both inside and outside the classroom. He also kept involved in football by assisting with Trojan football teams and serving as a "press box" coach for St. Francis.

He "retired" in 1993 after serving as Principal for one year. He returned to TCAPS as a counselor at East Junior High, a substitute principal at TCC and the first Athletic Director at Traverse City West. In recent years, he continued to assist his friend, Ralph Bradley, coaching at East Junior High and had the opportunity to coach his grandsons at Elk Rapids.

Lately, he was a fixture at the St. Francis Parish office, where he offered his time and talents to various charitable endeavors. Waldo was very active in the community. He served on the TC Board of Appeals for several years, as well as the Community Living Center board and the Hall of Fame Committees at St. Francis and Traverse City Central High School.

Waldo was bestowed with several honors, including the Class "D" Coach of the Year in 1973, the Michigan High School Football Coaches' Hall of Fame in 1986 and the TCAPS Outstanding Educator Award in 1992.

His hobbies included fishing, skiing and jogging. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and enjoyed researching his genealogy. He spent his summers at his cottage on Walloon Lake and enjoyed telling tall tales, jokes and quoting poetry around the campfire.

Waldo was preceded in death by his brothers, Ed, Harlow and Bob.

He will be greatly missed by his wife of 59 years, Marcia; his children, Patricia (Charles) Brumbaugh, Deborah Anderson, Linda (Joseph) Watt, Mary (Tim) O'Callaghan, Michael Keating, Margaret (John) Anderson, Laura (Steve Bayne) Keating and Robert (Joseph Klingman) Keating; his grandchildren, David (Anne), Andrew, John, Christian, Nicholas, Patrick, Michael, Matthew, Megan, Robert, Timothy, Danny and Laura. He also leaves behind a sister, Mary Wright and her children; a brother, Patrick and his children; and his "California" nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, June 16, from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m., at St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City, with a Vigil Service taking place at 7 p.m. Deacon Rene Hoenscheid will conduct the service. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 17, also at St. Francis Church, with Father James Gardiner and Father William Lipscomb presiding. Burial will take place at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be sent to either the Waldo T. Keating Memorial Scholarship or the St. Francis Athletic Association c/o Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools.

The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.