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2025 01/29 – Gary D. Keister

By Bruce Kropp Jan 29, 2024 | 2:23 PM

Gary D. Keister, 79, of Patoka passed away peacefully Sunday, January 26, 2025.

He was born on July 8, 1945, the son of Robert “Bob” and Velma (Heinzmann) Keister in Vandalia. He married the love of his life, Patricia (Meyer) on August 10, 1965, in Sandoval, and she preceded him in death on January 23, 2009.

Survivors that will remember Gary’s kind smile and appreciate the lessons he taught from a life lived to serve others include his daughters, Angie Braddock of Patoka, Beth Orrell and husband Ed “Tater” Jr. of Shattuc; his grandchildren, Casey Bolin and husband T.J. of Alma, Bradley Braddock of Patoka, and Bethany Orrell of Shattuc; his great-granddaughters, Grace, and Madilyn Bolin; his brother-in-law, Gary Meier; his nephew, Christopher Meier; and his niece, Laura Meier.

Along with his wife of 43 years, Pat Keister, Gary was preceded in death by his parents; and his sister, Debbie Meier.

Gary and his wife Pat worked together as the 3rd generation of farmers sowing the land of the Heinzmann Farm located on Shady Grove Road west of Patoka. Their dedication to the family farm would later grow to become the Heinzmann-Keister Farm legacy. He worked diligently on the farm, enjoying every aspect of farming, from planting season to harvest. Gary’s faith was a comfort on those dry summers when “you couldn’t buy a rain”, and he was grateful for lessons learned to reap the rewards of trusting all would come to an abundant harvest. Gary was loyal to his International Harvester tractors, using them to work his fields and as a collector, restoring antique models back to their original glory. He was a former Director and Secretary of the National International Harvester Collector’s Club and a Founding member of the International Harvester’s Collectors Chapter 32 of Southern Illinois. In his younger years, Gary was part of the Patoka Pullers, going to tractor pulls all around the area.  He also was a volunteer on the Patoka Fire Department where he made lifelong friends and helped many people.

Gary was a faithful member of the Patoka First Baptist Church. He was an ever-present, proud papa, sharing stories with his grandkids of when he was a boy and reminding them of how excited he was to become their “PaPa”. He liked asking his granddaughter, Bethany about her dog, Lucky, and Bethany would tell her “PaPa” all about what Lucky had been up to. Gary was a man who possessed a strong work ethic, offered words of wisdom, and weathered the storms in life with compassion and courage.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the Day Macz Funeral Home in Patoka with Pastor David Rogers officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park in rural Sandoval. Friends and relatives are welcome to a visitation time from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Wednesday at the funeral home in Patoka. Memorials may be made in Gary’s honor to American Cancer Society-Relay for Life Marion County (Beth’s Buddies) with checks payable to the Relay for Life. Online condolences and memories of Gary may be shared with the family by visiting maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page. Day Macz Funeral Home in Patoka is privileged to assist Gary Keister’s family with arrangements.