Add a Memory
Make a Donation
1949
2020
Keith Allen Michaels, 71, went home to the Lord on December 22, 2020 with a smile on his face and his wife at his side. His death was due to complications following surgery for lung cancer.
Keith was born and raised in Sandusky, Ohio. Following high school, Keith enlisted in the Marine Corps and served in Vietnam. He earned the Navy Achievement Medal for superior performance and was authorized to wear the Combat “V”. Some of the other honors he achieved included the Presidential Unit Citation and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. PTSD impacted him for the rest of his life. The highlight of his decade of service as a Marine guard at the American embassy in Rome, which was a very enjoyable assignment.
Not long after returning to Ohio, Keith responded to God’s call to ministry. After graduating from Milliken University, he earned a Master of Divinity at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. He was ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church in 1994 and ministered to churches in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference until just a few months before his death. Those churches included Strasburg, Washington, Gaskill, Dalton City, Oakley, Georgetown, Danville, Central Park, Warrensburg, Olney Saint Paul, Rossville, Bismarck, Carlyle, Huey, Beckemeyer, East Alton First, Bethel, and Grafton. During the pandemic, he and his wife Vicky, supported each other in leading virtual worship services for their churches. He served as Registrar for the District Committee on Ministry up until his death.
Pastor Keith was a site Director at East Bay Camp for several years and led the Walk to Emmaus. He was gifted in youth ministry and was known for having exceptional creativity in teaching children about Jesus. In addition, he was a singer and often shared this gift in worship services. Keith led three adult groups to the Holy Land and had hoped to go one more time. In his later life, he loved to BBQ for friends, garden, and cheer for the Green Bay Packers.
Keith was a devoted father who raised a son, Tim Michaels of Colorado with his wife of 46 years, Joanne (Slyker) Michaels who preceded him in death. He is deeply mourned by his wife Rev. Victoria (Mardian) Michaels of Florissant with whom he enjoyed the last years of his life. He also leaves stepsons Keith Brown, Kyle (Christine) Brown and grandchildren Ethan, Owen, and Aiden of Missouri. In addition, he leaves brother Jim (Donna) Michaels and sister Laura Michaels of Ohio. Nieces and nephews in Ohio include Laura (Sean) Sefcik, Chris Michaels, Daniel (Alicia) Risner, and Ken (Anne-Marie) Hudak of Canada. Loved ones left behind in Illinois include a dear family friend Lauren (Patterson) Friese, and their children (Madelynn, Marjorie, Brady, and Clark) who lovingly called him “gramps”.
In addition to his wife Joanne, he was preceded in death by his parents Jesse and Bernice (nee Harvey) Michaels, brothers Bill (Karen) Michaels, and Terry (Pam) Michaels, all of Ohio.
A virtual memorial service will be held January 12, 2:00 PM hosted by O’Fallon First UMC, with Pastor Don Long officiating. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LG2pIK_QNJo&feature=youtu.be Interment will be at a later date due to COVID.
In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a memorial to one of these:
East Bay Camp Scholarship Fund 24248 Ron Smith Memorial Hwy Hudson, IL 61748
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation 18900 Jefferson Davis Hwy Triangle, VA 22172
Grace Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund PO Box 533 Crystal City, MO 63019
30 Entries
Gary Conrad
January 12, 2021
The lost to the family, his lovely wife, the church including Grafton United Methodist was and is tremendous. Rest in peace my friend, oh who will hold up " Laugh" signs now. God bless
John & Linda Stephens
January 11, 2021
Vicky, we are so sorry that you and Keith did not have more time to share together in this life. Our prayers are with you all as you grieve your loss. May your faith give you strength in this difficult time.
Diane Frankart
January 11, 2021
We had a lot of good times when we were kids in a marching unit.
Win & Tina Odo
January 11, 2021
Vicky is a wonderful minister and person. I know that she married Keith because he too was a kind and wonderful minister and partner. To meet them only once was enough to know their love was genuine and everlasting. Prayers will continue for Vicky.
Muriel Stephens
January 11, 2021
What a wonderful life you were greatly loved
Julie and Keith Wadley
January 10, 2021
It was a blessing to witness the love Keith and Vickie shared. May that love continue to lift, comfort, and encourage you, Vickie. May God’s Spirit enfold us all as we wait for our eternal reunion.
Mr & Mrs Ronald Sparling
January 7, 2021
We morn the loss of Keith Michael with you. He was truth blessing to our family. ❤
Rev Kathy (Robinson) McCafferty
January 5, 2021
My late husband, Rev. Rob Robinson, and I were good friends of Keith about 30 year ago when we served several churches in the same District. We loved Keith for his friendliness, sense of humor, and devotion to God. I will never forget a sermon he preached to our round-robin Lenten Church services. I always think of him when a sermon on the Plagues of Egypt. I had never heard, nor have I yet, the Plagues described with such passion, magnificence and humor as he did that day! Many of his friends and colleagues in ministry will miss him. I know I do. May God comfort all of us, especially his family.
Tracy Humphreys
January 4, 2021
Rest in peace and rise in glory, Pastor Keith. Thank you so much for all your labors of love on the Walk to Emmaus. My Walk was life-changing. Prayers and hugs to the family.
Jim Savant
January 4, 2021
I met Pastor Keith at an Emmaus walk. What a beautiful soul. He left an indelible mark on me, but I have a feeling I’m not the only one he touched like that. A good and faithful servant.
Gail Joyner
January 4, 2021
I served with Keith in Emmaus and remember him as a caring individual who loved the Lord and wanted others to know him.
Bruce Baumberger
January 4, 2021
Always appreciated Keith's detailed attention to his work as DCoM Registrar. His willingness to laugh and poke fun provided a light-hearted approach to a very demanding task. He will be sorely missed. We rejoice in his homecoming. God bless you in your mourning, Vicky.
Robert Folen
January 4, 2021
I knew Paster Keith when he was our Paster at FUMC in Carlyle. I worked and worshipped with a great deal. PK loved Jesus and loved teaching us all about God's grace, especially the children. With deepest sympathy and prayers. Bob Folen
Ivy Silas
January 4, 2021
May the Lord keep the loved ones comforted at this time of their grief. Having known Keith since by CTS days, as my classmate and pastoral friend, I know that he lived his call to ministry with God's blessings. He will be missed.
Lynnette Taylor
January 4, 2021
Keith was instrumental in bring me back to Christ. I was lucky enough to visit the Holy Land with him and JoAnn. He reaffirmed my baptism in the Jordan River. He was loved by many and will be missed!
Julie Berger
January 2, 2021
Dear Vicky, I am grateful to learn more about your husband's very full legacy. Comfort, strength, patience are my prayers for you and all whom Keith loved.
Rowena Harris
January 1, 2021
My love, prayers and thoughts are with you all
X
Marie Denkmann Dawson
December 31, 2020
I so wish I had known Keith better, but I do know the joy he brought to Vicky. T'is enough.
Gail and Harry LeMay
December 30, 2020
May God’s gracious love fill your hearts with comfort and peace, now and always.
Kay and Robert Baker
December 30, 2020
I shall always remember the smiles in your eyes and in the eyes of your wife Vicky when you talked about each other!
Mark Trautwein
December 30, 2020
Our prayers for comfort and peace for all of Keith's family and also for the hundreds of parishioners that he ministered to for so many years.
Susan Niesen
December 30, 2020
Vicky, my prayers and sympathy are with you as you mourn Keith. I never met him, but had been so happy that you had found happiness with him. I'm sorry the partnership you embraced is so quickly gone, but hope that you will find comfort in your faith, and warmth in your memories. Blessings, Susan
Patricia Vandergriff
December 30, 2020
God be with His wife Vicky and their children during this time of grief. May God surround you with his loving arms and bring you peace.
Sandy Jenne
December 30, 2020
Vicky, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers for you and your family for healing and peace at this time.
Chris & Carol Keating
December 30, 2020
Vicky, our prayers and love go out to you and to Keith’s family. It was always a joy to have Keith join us for worship at Woodlawn Chapel. His face glowed as he held your hand, and yours was radiant as you laughed together. Carol and I are both heartbroken for you. He was a wonderful person, well loved and full of faith.
Debbie Lind
December 30, 2020
May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.
Holly Mathis
December 30, 2020
Thankful for the joy his being brought to his loved ones
Diane Weber
December 30, 2020
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Keith but I know how happy Vicky was that they found each other and were able to spend some loving time together. That is so incredibly special.
Tom Eubanks
December 30, 2020
Sorry to hear about Keith's passing, I am sure all will miss him very much. Does Tim remember the trip from Warrensburg to Olney (about 30 yrs ago).
Showing 1 - 30 of 30 results