Thomas E. "Tom" Keesler

Thomas E. Keesler 1948-2025

Thomas Keesler, 77, of West Melbourne, Florida, died peacefully at home surrounded by family on May 4, 2025, after a long battle with pulmonary fibrosis.

He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1948 to Floyd Keesler and Maxine (Pelz) Keesler. Tom was educated at Melbourne High School before going to work at Harris (Radiation Inc.) He attended the Army Aviation School and proudly served in the Army as a helicopter crew chief. Tom served in Vietnam and earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievements in ground operations against hostile forces.

Throughout his lifetime Tom enjoyed many hobbies, including his love of motorcycles, building, hunting, fishing, gardening and craft. Always the engineer, he could build and fix many beautiful things. He loved to take care of his collection of orchids, and he created lovely bonsai plants, many that he made the container in which he grew them. He built a car from scratch and built himself a custom outrigger canoe boat.

Tom also loved nature and wildlife. He had many wild pets growing up, from snakes to a barn owl, to a pigeon that would follow him on his motorcycle. He raised cockatiels, and enjoyed feeding the birds, squirrels and racoons that visited in his yard. He built a beautiful pond with a fountain in the backyard where he kept koi fish and homed many aquatic friends.

Tom met and fell in love with his life partner, Donna Johnston in the spring 1974. While they were both working at Radiation Incorporated in Melbourne, Florida Tom asked a colleague, Bobbe Long to introduce him to her friend. They married in December of 1974 and have celebrated 50 years together.

Tom and Donna started their family in November of 1979 with their first-born child Elizabeth Keesler. In December of 1981 they brought their twins, Angela (Keesler) Tucci and Diana (Keesler) Parsons home. They have shared a beautiful life raising their three girls and watching their four grandchildren, Ethan, Isabella, Sofia, and Carmela grow up.

Tom was quite the artist as well and had a talent for drawing and painting. His love and passion for arts, craft and nature, he passed down to his children and grandchildren, whom he treasured spending time with. We will forever cherish the memories and the gift of values he has imparted. Tom will be missed every day and will live on in the hearts of all those who were fortunate enough to know him, and who will continue to share his love and light through these precious memories.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and sister Connie Kollmann and nephew Jason Lightner. He is survived by his sisters, Sandra Magruder and Joyce Jarrett and nieces, Hillary (Magruder) Phillips, Jennifer (Magruder) Warren, and Heather (Kollmann) Salter.