Thomas M. Keiser
AGE: 85 • New Providence
New Providence - Thomas M. Keiser, 85, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Wednesday (April 12, 2017). Born and raised in Plainfield, he had lived in Scotch Plains for 50 years before moving to the Lantern Hill Retirement Community in New Providence last year.
After attending Plainfield Public Schools and Staunton Military Academy, he graduated from Plainfield High School in 1949 and attended Ohio Wesleyan College. He left college in 1951 to serve his country in the Korean War and after his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1954, he continued his studies at the University of Wyoming. After graduating with a BS in Agriculture in 1957, he attended graduate school at Penn State University, where he received his MS in Agricultural Economics in 1958. In 1959, he made the decision to join his father in funeral service and after graduating from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1959, he began his active association with Memorial Funeral Home in Plainfield becoming president in 1966. In 1978 he purchased a vacant lot in Fanwood and proceeded to design and build Memorial Funeral Home in Fanwood - the first contemporary funeral home in Union County - which opened in 1980. After turning the business over to his son several years ago, he retired his license to practice in 2015.
Tom was active in community service throughout his career - as a member and past president of the Plainfield Kiwanis Club; member and Deacon at Crescent Ave. Presbyterian Church in Plainfield; member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board; and various Masonic organizations. More recently, he was a member of Faith Lutheran Church and a member of the Old Guard. He had also volunteered feeding the homeless at St. John's Soup Kitchen in Newark and served as a volunteer at the library at Lantern Hill. He was also a member of Plainfield Country Club for many years.
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Thelma; daughter, Barbara Jean Parlier (and her husband, Reggie) of Gastonia, NC; his son Thomas M. Keiser, Jr. (and his wife, Jenifer) of Scotch Plains; six grandchildren, Michelle Recher (and her husband, Chief Petty Officer Scott Recher, US Navy); Sarah Barr (and her husband, Kyle); Corporal David Parlier, USMC (and his wife, Jessie); Mark Parlier, Melissa Keiser and Katie Keiser; five great-grandchildren, Leah, Seth, John, Brooks, Andrew; and his son-in-law Michael Brooks (and his wife, Linda). He was predeceased by his daughter, Leeann, who died in 1995.
He was a devoted husband and father who loved his family more than anything. He took his family on vacations to Wyoming, Florida and Europe whenever he could. But his favorite thing in the world was to be at home, by his pool, with his family and pets.
Services will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 524 South St., New Providence, on Tuesday, April 18th, at 11 AM. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains. Visitation will be at Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Ave., Fanwood, on Monday from 2 PM to 6 PM. Those who wish, may make donations to Saint John's Soup Kitchen, c/o Faith Lutheran Church, 524 South St., New Providence, NJ 07974. For additional information or to sign the guestbook, visit
www.fanwoodmemorial.com.
Published by Courier News from Apr. 14 to Apr. 16, 2017.