Robert Ernest "Bob" Keebler

Rounding third and heading home…
WATERLOO - Robert "Bob" Ernest Keebler of Waterloo, NY, passed away peacefully in his home on March 18, 2024 at the age of 96, keeping his humor and wit until the very end.

Bob was born on May 2, 1927 in Geneva, NY to the late Ernest and Margaret (Platman) Keebler. He attended Border City School and graduated from Geneva High School in 1945. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1945 after graduation. He passed the college entrance exam in Michigan and was planning to study agriculture and play baseball before he was drafted to the Army.

Bob served in the United States Army for two years in Germany and France as a Rifleman 745, a Technical Sergeant in the Signal Corps, and a Crew Chief Lineman for Telephone and Telegraph 238 during and after World War II. He returned after the war to work for the New York Telephone Company for 41 years as a Communication Serviceman and as a Union Representative. Bob was a long standing member of the Waterloo VFW Post 6433 and the Waterloo American Legion Warner – Van Riper Post 435.

Bob built his house on River Road with the help of his father and lived there until his passing.

Bob was known for his love of baseball. He played on the first Kiwanis Baseball team in Geneva. If he had not been drafted into the Army, he said he could have been drafted to the Major Leagues. He was one of the founding members of the Waterloo Little League back in 1967. When there was a lack of practice space in the community, Bob built a baseball field on the acreage in his backyard in 1967 and later added a second field in 1989 with the help of his sons and sons-in-law. Many generations of Waterloo baseball players learned to play the sport he loved so much under his supervision and on his fields. He played a very large part throughout the history of Waterloo Little League – he was a Coach, Manager and Member of the Board, earning an Honorary Membership in 1995. In 2003, he earned the Pee Wee Bonacci Little League Award. Bob was also instrumental in getting necessary equipment and lighting for the Vince Lombardi Football League in Waterloo. He saw that there was a need for lighting on the field, he had the resources and wanted to help his community, so he got the job done.

When he wasn't maintaining and mowing his fields, you could be sure to find Bob at his children and grandchildren's sporting events, dance recitals, chorus and band concerts, and theater productions. As an avid fan of Buffalo Bills Football, New York Mets Baseball, and Syracuse University Sports, Bob was always watching or rewatching many games, no matter how old they were. Bob was often found "shooting the breeze" with his pals at the little store. He was involved in all aspects of the community, like building a Pinewood Derby track in his basement and as a member of the Board of Education from 1973 to 1983, serving as Vice President from 1979 to 1980 and 1981 to 1983. He was also a Waterloo Lions Club Scout Master for Pack 81.

He is survived by his children, Patricia (Bernard) Doran, Timothy (Lauri) Keebler, and Susan (Kevin) Fredendall. His also survived by his grandchildren, Kimberly Doran, Kelly (Justin) Burkett, Shaun Keebler (Rachel), Patrick Keebler (Stacey), Stephanie (Matthew) VanNostrand, Robert Steen, Sarah Fredendall, and Stephen Fredendall (Madison); as well as his great-grandchildren, Ryan and Paige VanNostrand, Alex Keebler, Addison Keebler, Charlie and Lucy Burkett, and Gracie, Dakota, Rose, and Phillip Steen; and his sister, Janet Keebler.

He is predeceased by his wife, Mary (Maher) Keebler; children, Robert Edward Keebler and Mary Elizabeth Coates; and brothers, Edward, Richard and Alan Keebler.

Friends may call at the DeVaney-Bennett Funeral Home, 181 N. Main St., Geneva on Wednesday, (April 10), from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

Funeral Services will be at 12 p.m. on Thursday, (April 11), in the funeral home with the Rev. James Fennessy officiating. Burial with full Military Honors will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery in Waterloo.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Waterloo Little League, the Waterloo VFW, or his buddies Alec and Kaleb at Shriners Hospital for Children.