Edward Keck

Kansas resident, 45

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Edward T. "Ed" Keck, 45, of Manhattan died of cancer Sunday, March 23, 2008, at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan with the Rev. Don Zimmerman officiating. Burial will be at Sunrise Cemetery in Manhattan.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home in Manhattan. The family will be present one hour before the rosary.

He was born Feb. 3, 1963, in Grand Island, Neb., to Bill and Shirley (Blair) Keck.

On May 23, 1986, he married Jolene Smith in North Platte, Neb.

Survivors include his wife; sons, Shane, Aaron and Patrick, all of Manhattan; his mother, of North Platte; brothers, Bill "Butch" of Omaha, Neb., Allan, Steve, Kenny and Keven, all of North Platte, and Dick of Kearney, Neb.; and sisters, Bonnie Tilford, Kathy Buck and Dorothy Savory, all of North Platte.

Additional survivors include his son Shane's fiancée, Danna Davidson of Manhattan; sisters-in-law, Cindy Keck, Theresa Keck and Alice Keck, all of North Platte, and Kristie Keck of Kearney; sister Dorothy's partner, Hubert; and many nieces and nephews.

He grew up in Grand Island. In 1972, he moved with his family to North Platte, where he was a 1981 graduate of St. Patrick's Catholic High School. In 1987, he received his bachelor of science degree in graphic art and design from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

He was a 22-year veteran transportation officer with the U.S. Army Reserve, serving three tours including Korea, Bosnia and Iraq. He retired at the rank of major in 2005.

He has been a Manhattan resident since 1989. He was marketing director of Kansas Farm Bureau for 15 years and for the past two years had worked as a project manager for M2 Technologies.

He was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Council 8488 in Manhattan. He was always eager to coach in the city's youth sports leagues over the years and loved to watch his sons compete in any sport.

He was a loving husband and father and was extremely proud of his three sons. He always put his family first, and he was deeply loved by all his family and friends. He will continue to be known by his nieces and nephews as "Uncle Best Guy."

He was preceded in death by his father in 1998.

Memorials are suggested to the Keck Boys' College Fund and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Online condolences can be sent to www.irvinparkview.com.