Lt. Col. John S. Keene

John was born June 7, 1942 in Hamilton, MT to John and Lulu Grace Keene. He was raised in Melrose, MT where he went to grade school. He graduated high school in Dillon, MT. He worked on several ranches around Melrose. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. He worked for a dude ranch before he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1960.

His years in the Marine Corps were very important to him as he made it his career. In the thirty years he spent serving his country, he achieved many awards. He went from enlisted Private to Staff Sergeant. He then went to school and became a Warrant Officer and eventually retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 1990.

In 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Dodgson. They were married 56 years and had four children. In 2005, they moved back to Montana to take care of Nancy’s dad. They resided there for thirteen years. They returned to Virginia in June of 2018 to be closer to family. John met two of his great grandchildren on December 23 and it was quite a joy to him.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; sons, Steve, Shawn (Sherry), and Seth; daughter, Sundra (Luke); grandchildren, Nichole (Danny), Steven (Megan), Amber (Corey), Mandy, Kolby, Shawn, and Charlie; 8 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, brother, and great grandson, Cameron.

A celebration of John’s life will take place at 11 am on Monday, January 14, 2018 at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Service, Fredericksburg. Interment will follow at Quantico National Cemetery.