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BORN
1947
DIED
2024
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Thomas Keller Obituary
September 24, 1947 ~
September 28th, 2024
Tom Keller was ready, In a Set stance; to tackle Life.
The man had 'rizz... And though he seemed to sail through a charmed life, it was his grit, integrity, positivity, and work ethic that drove him.
Tommy was born in the fall,1947, in Wallace, Idaho. As the baby of 4 boys to Gracie (Armstrong) and Jack Keller, Tom learned to talk louder, throw harder, run faster, prank with the best, and think quickly to keep up with big brothers Mike, Davey, and Don.
They lived in The Idaho Silver Valley until a mining job took the Kellers to Heber City, Utah.
At 15, Tom started Wasatch High School and excelled academically, at Football, Band, flirting, baseball, Choir, basketball, track, Class President. The kid showed up ready.
Tom saw Diane in her cutoffs, and though
his friends told him to stay away from her, "She's too MEAN!"
He did not listen, so the Tom and Diane smoke show officially began his Sr. year.
They didn't look back and were married on October 6th, 1967.
Barely 19 & 20yrs old, in school, and on football scholarship, they scrounged, scrimped, and lived in a trailer, but worked hard, laughed harder, & made it work.
Dad was utterly self-supported, so Football was the key that unlocked the doors to his life. A football scholarship To Weber State University opened up education, and culminated in his Masters at the Univ. of Montana. He had an 11year career in Montana and Utah, as beloved Coach Keller and a stellar Biology teacher.
Weber State won the Big Sky Conference with Keller's tackles, he coached his way to Football & Track Championships at Gt. Falls High, Jordan, and Hellgate High, Tom made friends for life: fellow athletes, coaches, mentored students, co-workers, Tom collected friends everywhere he went.
With 4 kids, Tom & Di moved to Utah for a sales career, living in Sandy, and later S.Jordan.
He worked with Champion Products; Gear for Sports; Creative Expressions; and retired with Brown and Bigelow.
Nicknamed Thunder Tom, with his booming, boisterous self, to Diane's lightning spark, they made an electric, athletic, couple, and created a love filled home.
Dad was a full force father. Taught us to throw, fish, trust ourselves, laugh at ourselves. We learned to dance, work hard, play outdoors, to live in awe, to seek out the good in life, and live with integrity.
He loved fall and Football season, good stories with friends, cooking, golf, a Coors heavy, music of every genre, tennis, camping, fishing, desert & Mt. adventures, hiking, not biking. Loved to break out in dance or song, tell Dad jokes, pull pranks, and…
He loved us.
"Growing up with dad in our corner was like being born on 3rd base, in The World Series, and simply walking home." JD
"Dad would tuck us in every night, and would listen to me babble about my day. He was proud of us just for being us." Kim
"He is the reason I walk through life with confidence and resilience. His belief in me made me see my own gifts." Kristy
"As a teen I knew he was a special dad. His chats, cooked meals, gentle support, The warmth we had? it was magic." Amy
When Alzheimer's slowly took mom, it literally and figuratively broke his heart. He tried valiantly to stay for us and his adored grandkids, but his heart couldn't anymore, and just stopped beating, he died so peaceful, at home.
So, just days after his birthday, we imagine Tom and Di finally "sleeping in the desert tonight, with a million stars all around."
T+D Forever
Survived by Children John Dean (Melanie) Keller; Amy (Mike) Keller-Bills; Kristy (James) Willhite; Kimberly (Chris) Rowland, 11 beloved grandkids, his nieces and nephews, cousins, countless friends & neighbors.
Preceded in death: his parents Jack Keller, Grace Armstrong, brothers Dave, Mike, & Don. His wife, Diane (Moulton) Keller.
A celebration of his life will be on Thursday, October 17 from 6-8 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance located on the north side of the building. Please bring stories to share starting at 7:30 and wear some Wildcat purple!
A funeral service will be on Friday, October 18 at 1:00 PM, also at Starks Funeral Parlor.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks Funeral Parlor. Please visit www.Starksfuneral.com to share photos and memories with Tom's family.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas Keller
Sponsored by Starks Funeral Parlor.
Roger Trinchero
September 26, 2025
I had the honor of playing on the same Weber State football team with Tommy.
He was a fierce competitor and a vital member of our championship team. I had many opportunities to be with Tommy after football and later in life as we would enjoy playing on the same team in the Weber State Gridiron Golf Tournament. Tommy always kept the mood light and humorous. He was a dear friend, and I shall miss him, but will always look back fondly on our time together. R.I.P. Brother
Eunice Bergin
October 16, 2024
We had the best neighbours in Sandy. Many fun hrs in the hot tub and dancing elves in the snow outside our windows!!! We will miss both Tom and Diane. Our thoughts and prayers much love The Bergin Family Andrew, Eunice, Audra , Simon & Shaun
Weber State University Alumni Association
October 8, 2024
Dear Keller Family,
Our office noted with sadness the passing of your father, Thomas, and we wish to send our condolences and sincere sympathy to you and your family at this time of bereavement. As a member of Weber State University´s extended family, friends and associates will miss him.
While we realize a condolence letter cannot lessen your sense of loss, we want to let you know that his achievements and contributions were appreciated at Weber State.
Sincerely,
Nancy B. Collinwood
Executive Director of Alumni Relations
Vicki Dangerfield
October 6, 2024
I knew your folks briefly as I was your mom´s visiting teacher for a short time. Your dad always joined us and I just remember how fun and welcoming they both were. I loved our visits and although I´m sure they wouldn´t have remembered me, I remember them fondly. My sincere condolences.
Rena Christensen
October 5, 2024
Dean and Rena Christensen share our loving thoughts with you, the wonderful families Tom and Diane were so proud of.
Tom and Rena had fathers who worked for Hecla at the Star Mine in Burke, ID. We zoomed our sleds down the same steep road in Wallace, ID. Tom and Dean were young, strong college students working underground at the Mayflower Mine as partners on weekends. Total trust and friendship was a bond for life for miners. There is a monument at the base of the Mayflower ski run ( Deer Valley) that I regretfully didn´t get the photo of them I was planning on taking next June. We four enjoyed our friendship during early years raising children. Moves to other states kept us apart physically but we stayed in touch, continued to enjoy our friendship and laughed about the "good ole days" skiing,, golfing, Lake Powell camping and boating, the cabin by the St Joe River, etc. It has been an honor knowing them for so many years. You must know how very much they LOVED all 4 of you and your families.
I can visualize them lying in that soft red sand of southern Utah hearing the sounds of water from Lake Powell gently flapping, the smell of sage and a million stars in the heavenly beautiful, endless universe.
In Loving memory, Dean and Rena ( Lindstrom) Christensen
Danny Mcgillis
October 4, 2024
Tommy was a life time friend.
Ask children, we played football. Basketball baseball and all sports together are parents or very good friends. And I would go fishing with Tommy family and Tommy would go fishing with my family. We were very close. I extend my condolences tommy A very Special person My prayers and my heart go out to
Elaine Gallegos
October 4, 2024
Tom, I will miss your energetic love for life, and your happy smile. Thanks for being out exciting go-to-guy for all our Rust company swag and more importantly a great friend. We were blessed to know you! Awesome obituary!
SuzAnne Eggertz
October 3, 2024
Awesome obituary amazing parents. Met your parents through the Dolson´s parties they were so much fun. They were such a special couple rest in peace Tom and Diane
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Memorial Events
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Oct
17
Celebration of Life
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Starks Funeral Parlor3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Oct
17
Oct
18
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