WAYNE KENNETH KEELER

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WAYNE KENNETH KEELER

1948 - 2024

Wayne was born November 19, 1948 at Forbes Nursing Home in Hartney, Manitoba. He had a happy childhood on the family farm east of Lauder, Manitoba with his mom and dad, brother Wendell and across the road the “third musketeer” his cousin Jeff Keeler (Debbie). Being fortunate enough to be raised in a close rural community, he was surrounded by loving family, friends and relatives.

Wayne attended grades 1-8 in the small country Lauder School resulting in many lifelong friendships. After completing grades 9-12 in Hartney Collegiate Institute, Wayne worked in the Bank of Montreal in Carberry for a time. This was followed by a Physical Education degree at the University of North Dakota and an Education Degree at Brandon University. He taught for 12 years as a Physical Education teacher and then followed his love of numbers by working for accounting firms in Deloraine, Melita and Virden.

The essence of Wayne was his two main passions: sports and family. He started playing ball at Lauder School with Mr. Leo Peloquin, plus area parents, providing the organization and support for the team. Many happy hours were spent by all attending the games to cheer on the home players. Wayne also played several other sports such as hockey, golf, curling, baseball and orienteering.

Over the years Wayne played with the Lauder Parklanes Fastball Team, baseball with Grand Clairiere, Souris Junior Cardinals, Souris Cardinals, Grandview Lakers, Riverside Canucks, Deloraine Royals, and Slow Pitch with Manitoba South-West Coyotes and the Roadhaven Park RoadRunner team.

He has been inducted in the Manitoba Baseball Hall of Fame several times, including this year as an assistant coach for the Oil Dome Bantam All Stars 1990 team. Wayne coached many levels of sports in the community and area, always willing to help those who wanted to be part of a team. He was a faithful community volunteer.

Wayne was baptized in the Melgund United Church and a member of the Hartney United Church with his last role being Trustee. Wayne had a quiet but deep faith. Wayne also belonged to the Hartney Golf Club, the Manitoba Teacher’s Society, and a lifetime member of the Canadian Legion #26 holding many offices in these organizations over the years. Wayne was the Treasurer for the Manitoba AAA Hockey League from 2001-2004 seasons.

Of course, those who knew Wayne recognized how devoted he was to family and friends. He was a quiet man, who did a lot more listening than talking, but loved to swap stories and memories from the past. Inevitably, his sports and number passions would sometimes draw him away and he would be found watching and taking stats on baseball or hockey games----often with his boys or nieces and nephews crawling over him when they were young. Patience and stoicism were traits that Wayne demonstrated over his lifetime.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Audrey, granddaughters, Mya and Jane Keeler (daughter-in-law Yas Keeler), daughter-in-law Becky (Derek) Wowchuk, and their son Hunter; brother Wendell (Lynne) Keeler, niece Keri-Lynne (Paul) Bacon: great-nephew George Bacon and great-niece Frankie Bacon and nephew Kenneth Keeler. Close cousin Jeff (Debbie): children, Brad (Katharine) and son Bren; James (Jessica) and children, Bodhi, Dax, and Britain, cousins, Janice Scharf and Joan (Doug) Silzer, cousins, David (Sue), Mark (Cathy), Tom (Kim) and Paula (Craig). Cousins, Dale (Dorothy), Glen and Bernie Whetter plus cousin Ellen (Robert) Stevenson. Wayne is also mourned by his sister–in-law Darlynne Smith and brother-in-law Nelson Brown (Anneke) and their families: Kathleen Steele and daughter Nicole; Janice Brown and children Emma and Josh; Karen (Tommy) Tyluk and children Sarah and Sam; David (Lisa) and children, Pete, Jack and Henry Brown. Wayne has been so fortunate to have wonderful cousins, family and friends who have been there to support him over the years.

A genuine word of thanks to Dr. Cram for his on-going patience and care over the years, and the many kindnesses performed by staff from the Souris Prairie Mountain Health area. Special thanks to Robyn Denbow, the Health Care Workers and Family Management friends who surrounded Wayne with their love and caring , thus enabling him to be at home.

Wayne was predeceased by his sons, Robert William Wayne Keeler and Bryan Wayne Kenneth Keeler, father Kenneth William Keeler, mother Marjorie Irene (Couling) Keeler, aunts, Rita Clark (Geordie Houck), Dorothy (Clint) Whetter, Doreen (Garry) Scharf, Freida (Bob) Thompson, cousin Kim Scharf, Father and Mother-in-Law Ruggles William and Rose Ellaine Brown, and nephew-in-law Kenneth William Milton Dobbyn.

An interment will take place on Thursday, July 4, 2024 at the Lauder Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. There will be a time of fellowship at 2:00 p.m. in the Hartney Centennial Center. All are welcome.

If you wish, donations in Wayne’s memory may be given to: Hartney Golf Club, Box 271 Hartney, Manitoba R0M 0X0, Hartney Royal Canadian Legion Branch #26 Box 98, Hartney, Manitoba R0M 0X0, Lauder Cemetery (Attention Eldon Ramsey) Box 66, Lauder, Manitoba R0M 1C0.

Messages of condolences may be made at www.kowalchuks.net

As published in Brandon Sun on Jun 29, 2024, Jun 29, 2024