Keith A. Pfledderer

1939 - 2023

Keith A. Pfledderer, 84, a lifelong resident of Rensselaer, went to his heavenly home on Friday, July 14, 2023.

He was born in Rensselaer on April 2, 1939, to Albert G. Pfledderer and Marguerite Mae (Bemslager) Pfledderer. He married his high school sweetheart, Frannell "Fran" Kresler, on Sept. 10, 1960.

Keith was a 1958 graduate of Rensselaer High School. He excelled at athletics, playing varsity basketball, football and track. He was key to the Bombers winning back-to-back basketball sectionals in 1957 and 1958. For his athletic abilities, he was inducted into the Rensselaer Sports Hall of Fame. His teachers teased him that he had the best car in the high school parking lot, his prized '57 Ford Fairlane 500.

Keith enlisted in the U.S. Army, stationed out of Ft. Knox, Ky., and served in Germany. He was a proud veteran and was a member of Rensselaer VFW Post #1279, and a member and Past-Commander of Rensselaer American Legion Post #29, which he affectionately referred to as "the office". Keith enjoyed stopping at American Legion Posts far and wide during his travels, visiting with other veterans.

Keith was a lifelong farmer. He would skip school at an early age, walking home from Hanging Grove Township School to help his father on the farm, just up the road from where he and Fran would later make their family home. Farming was his life. When he wasn't farming, he worked for Castongia's John Deere and drove a semi for Hopkins Trucking and others. Fran would often ride along with him in his truck.

He was a supporter of Rensselaer Central High School and St. Joseph's College. He was a member of the Rensselaer 500 Club, a St. Joseph's College Fellow, and a member of the Puma 100 Club. He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church.

In his younger days, Keith enjoyed many snowmobiling trips with family and friends to Cadillac, Michigan, and his CB handle was "Tall Man." In later years, he enjoyed wintering in Florida, watching his beloved Chicago Bears play, driving his Lincoln, and spending time with his family.

Keith is survived by three children, Kara (Greg) Fishburn, Rensselaer, Kyle Pfledderer, Rensselaer, and Kori Thomas, Newnan, Ga.; four grandchildren, Christopher (Lauren) Pfledderer, Texas, Hannah Pfledderer, Rensselaer, and Cannon and Brooklyn Thomas, Newnan, Ga.; and two great-grandchildren, Archer and Benjamin Pfledderer, Texas. Two sisters also survive, Gloria (Robert) Soderstrom, Florida, and Angela (Rick) Popovich, also of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Fran, and his parents.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 19 from 9 a.m. until time of funeral at noon at Steinke Funeral Home of Rensselaer. Father Rick Nagel officiating.

Burial with military honors will follow at Weston Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Legion Post #29.

Steinke Funeral Home is honored to be handling the arrangements.

Memories, photos and condolences may be shared with the family at www.SteinkeFuneralHome.com.