Keith Earl Garrett
Keith Garrett
April 26, 1938 – December 22, 2011
Oskaloosa, Iowa
Visitation: Will begin at 1 p.m., Monday afternoon, December 26, 2011 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 4 – 6 p.m. to greet visitors.
Funeral Service: 2:30 p.m.., Tuesday afternoon, December 27, 2011 at Central United Methodist Church with Pastors Tom Boomershine and Alvern Boetsma officiating.
Interment: Bloomfield Cemetery east of Oskaloosa.
Keith passed away after a long and courageous 3 ½ year battle with A.L.S., on Thursday at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. He was 73 years, 7 months and 26 days of age.
Keith Earl Garrett, son of Arley Wesley and Thelma Irene Mitchell Garrett, was born April 26, 1938 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. While still in high school, Keith enlisted in the Army Reserves, after graduating from Oskaloosa High School in 1956, he served in active duty training from June to November of 1956. Keith was united in marriage to Nancy Martin at the First Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa on July 5, 1959. Keith was recalled to active duty in October, 1961, and served until August, 1962. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Keith was called up again and he and Nancy spent more than a year in Arizona with the Army Reserves attached to the 404 Signal Company, during this time Keith was promoted to Staff Sergeant. Prior to his military service, Keith worked for the Oskaloosa Herald; after his discharge, he was employed by Grahams Department Store. He was transferred to Sheldon, Independence, Clarinda and eventually back to Oskaloosa, where he worked as the manager until 1982. At that time, Keith went to work at Pella Corp. in quality control. Keith retired in 2007. Keith served as Oskaloosa’s Third Ward Councilman for two terms, during which time he served on several committees within city government. He also served as president of Oskaloosa Little League for several years, as well as coached teams and umpired games. He was a member of the Central United Methodist Church.
Keith’s family includes his wife of 52 years, Nancy; a daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Delbert Pettyjohn of Bussey; a daughter-in-law, Mary Garrett of Ottumwa; a granddaughter, Kia Whitten of Oskaloosa; three grandsons: Derek and Dylan Springer of Bussey and Brian Pettyjohn of Bussey; five sisters: Dorothy Hazlett of Kansas City, MO, Betty (Bob) Plate of Pella, Margie Black of Oskaloosa, Mary Lou (Carrol) Beyer of Searsboro, and Elaine (Danny) Brown of Oskaloosa; two sisters-in-law: Nadine Garrett of Marion, IA and Miladean Garrett of Albia; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Keith was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth on August 23, 2011; a sister, Arlene Salway; and three brothers: Bill, Bob and Donald Garrett.
Memorials may be made to the MHP Hospice Services Serenity House.
