William Donald Keller

1923 - 2023

William Donald Keller
October 2, 1923 - April 21, 2023
The celestial choir has recently announced its newest member, Dr. William Donald Keller who passed into Heaven on April 21, 2023.
William was born October 2, 1923, to William and Dorothy Keller in Thurber, Texas. He was born prematurely weighing only 3 ½ pounds, but was ready for a long life ahead. He was raised in Sioux City, Iowa surrounded by his loving family, sister Karalyn (Kay) and brother Richard (Rik), and when he was 17, his beloved sister Lucinda (Cindy) joined the family. During his childhood in Sioux City, Iowa, his mother taught him declamations and lively songs, many of which he would gladly recite up to a couple of months before his passing.
William received his undergraduate and Master's degree from Peabody Teachers College at Vanderbilt, Nashville, Tennessee, and his Doctorates of Education in Business Management at Colorado State College (Now the University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, Colorado. He had several jobs throughout his career as a professor of accounting with his last and longest job teaching at Ferris State in Big Rapids, Michigan. It was in Big Rapids where Bill met the love of his life Betty Cole Keller, and in 1976 they married and lived out a happy life for 32 years. He often commented that he moved in with four women, two dogs, and one cat when he married Betty.
Bill spent his youth singing in the boys' choir, studying hard and earning scholarships, participating in elocutions, debating and declamations. During the war he worked in Alaska in the War Department and after WWII he went on to achieve his Masters and Doctorates. He would say that the three major events in his life were the bombing of Pearl Harbor, earning his doctorates and marrying Betty. Bill was active with the Saint Andrew's Episcopal church, Big Rapids, as a choir member as well as a vestry member. He was active in the Big Rapids and Green Township communities and enjoyed his weekly sing along sessions over the years at the nursing home and other senior activity centers.
Never will you have met a kinder person. Bill was intent on doing good until others, smiling, and bringing to others good cheer and leaving in God's hands his worries and sorrows.
Bill is survived by his sister Lucinda Mahmoud, daughter Connie Alderson (Ken), stepchildren Susanna Davis, Jean Howrey, Bill Cole III, John Cole (Judy), Jim Cole (Janine), Leslie Stoike (Mike), Ann Kreiser (Jeff) and numerous Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren, and nephews.
He is preceded by his wife, Betty Jean Cole Keller, daughter Marjorie Kay Keller, parents Dorothy and William, sister Kay Sherrard, brother Rik, Grandsons, Jordon Bauer and Jakson Kreiser, and nephews Mark Sherrard, Christopher Keller and Craig Keller.
Dr. Keller's family is planning a memorial service on July 18th at Highland View Cemetery. Please join the family at Green Township Hall for a luncheon to follow.