Donald F. Keegan

Donald F. Keegan was born February 2, 1941 in Richland Center, Wisconsin to .Leo and Alice Margaret Keegan. He was the second of 3 boys. In high school he enjoyed sports, basketball, baseball and GOLF. Golf was his first love and he received a full golf scholarship to the University of Wisconsin in Madison. His handicap was +4. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering and, not liking the cold, headed south to Douglas Aircraft in St. Louis, Missouri. Don developed a second love, airplanes. After 3 years, in December 1967 he headed further south to St. Petersburg, Fl. This was paradise to him. He became a scuba diver, could play golf year round, enjoyed boating, camping, lobster season and soaked up the warm sun. It was never too hot for him. December, 1967 he became employed by Honeywell in the Environmental Lab where he made many lasting friendships. Retired 31 years later as supervisor of the lab where he oversaw testing of the guidance systems for the space shuttles. On March 28, 1968, his son Don Jr. was born. He became a single father in 1970 and raised him alone until 1981 . On March 6, 1975, he met a woman, Pat, who later would become the love of his life, at a Parents without Partners dance. She had 2 children Craig and Tricia. On February 28, 1981, they married and started a wonderful journey as a blended family. In December, 1993 his desire to become a member of a private golf course came true when we joined the Seminole Lake CC. He loved the course and the many good friendships he developed there. Don ran the Tuesday afternoon men’s league for many years and has many trophies from tournaments won. He retired in 1998 and golf became his next job. He always said “everyday is Saturday and then the big paper comes” and “you don’t take vacations just trips”. He loved life and every day of retirement. Then in October of 2016 he was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. That was when life changed drastically for a man who was big, strong and appeared healthy. The chemo caused neuropathy of his hands and feet and he lost 30 lbs. but he went into remission for 19 months. We downsized our housing and then in April, 2018 it came back with a vengeance. He fought so hard. This time the kidneys were damaged and he tolerated hemodialysis 3 times a week for a year which made him so sick along with the chemo treatments. We were just starting peritoneal dialysis which he tolerated much better, but in June he was in ICU with a bacterial blood infection for 12 days which was treated but the MM became uncontrolled. When there was no longer any hope of recovery from the myeloma I brought him home with hospice nurses round the clock. The fight was over and he died peacefully on July 1, 2019 in the home he loved. He is survived by his loving wife of 38 years Pat, son Don Jr.(Kim), stepson Craig Heckman (Laura), stepdaughter Tricia Greenberg (Richard), brother Robert Neill Keegan of Wisconsin, 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.