Keith Keily

He was born in December of 1937 in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin and at the age of 4 moved to LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He graduated from Central High School in 1955.

When he was in high school, a pretty young lady named Elaine, from the middle school, snuck into his high school dance. Tony asked her to dance and the rest is history. “Met at 15 and married at 18”, as Mom says.

Upon graduating, he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he became a Munitions Maintenance Specialist. As a family, we were stationed in Guam, Japan, Oklahoma, Ohio, New York, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, and twice in Kansas. He served 2 tours in Asia, first at Udorn then at Ubon Air Bases in Vietnam. His second tour was with the Ravens in Laos. The Ravens were a secret group of Americans sent to train the Hmong in Laos to help fight against the Viet Cong. He trained Laotians how to load weapons on T-28 and O-1 aircraft. Due to the secret nature of the training by the U.S. Advisors, they dressed as civilians and would be disavowed by the U.S. Government, if captured. Retiring after 21 years from the Air Force at Bergstrom AFB in Austin, he went to work selling cars for Toyota for 23 years. He fully retired in 1999. Dad and Mom had a place out in Manor for many years, with 5 horses and many dogs and cats. Moving on from Manor, they settled in Pflugerville.

He is survived by his wife, Elaine Keily, sons, Tim Keily (wife Laura McClellan) and Robert Keily (wife Dori Keily), grandchildren, Brandon Keily (wife Jennifer Keily), Kristine Zaiontz (husband Chris Zaiontz), Jessica Acosta (husband Jason Acosta), Eric Keily, Courtney Sevin (husband Jordan), great-grandchildren, Peyton, Brooklyn and Tatum Keily, Conrad Zaiontz, Eric Keily Jr., Gunner Keily, Aaron, Chloe Sevin and Adyson Bretz, as well as his sister, Jean Herlitzka from Onalaska, Wisconsin. He is preceded in death by his parents, Wallace and Arlene Keily, sisters, Judy Midthum and Barbara Anthony, and son Daniel Keily.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to fight Dementia. www.alz.org

He once told us that, at 9 years old, he decided all he ever wanted was a family, and we are so glad he did.