Donald Keener
Donald “Don” Griffin Keener, 86, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020, with his son by his side.
Born Nov. 24, 1934, in Slate Lick, he was the son of the late Raymond Griffin and Olive Pearl (Shaw) Keener.
Don graduated in 1953 from Freeport High School. He was a member of Cornerstone Baptist Bible Church in South Buffalo Township, where he loved attending all the services, and he was always studying his Bible.
Don was an auto mechanic his entire life, working first for Greenwalds then Montgomery Ward Auto taking him to Maryland then to Florida then back to Pennsylvania before opening his own shop in Slate Lick and then Kittanning until he retired. After retirement, he continued to work on cars as long as he was able.
Besides being a mechanic, he loved to golf. He also loved sports, especially the ones his children and grandchildren participated in. In retirement he enjoyed his trips to the “Y” to exercise. But he is probably most recently remembered for sitting at Walmart with his friends.
Dad never met a stranger, and you never went anywhere with him without someone coming up to talk to him.
He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Jo Keener of Saxonburg; and four sons, Theodore “Ted” (LuAnn), John (Robin) both of Sarver, Allen (Janice) of Kittanning and Timothy “Tim” (Michelle) of Freeport; five grandchildren, Melissa (Ryan) Janoski, Janae (Dave) Goodwin, Heather (Jonathan) Grimm, Alex Keener, Brad Keener; four step-grandchildren, Cassie Woods, Luke (Ashlie) Woods, Heather Panei, Joey Panei; five great-grandchildren, Lilyann, Dakota, Samuel, Isaiah, Hannah; three step-great-grandchildren, Isaac, Olivia, Lucie, born Dec. 23, 2020; a sister, Janet Scott; and four brothers, Richard “Dick,” Raymond “Larry,” Keith (Charlotte) and William “Bill” (Judy); and brother-in-law, Denny Emery.
Besides his parents, he is also preceded in death by his grandson, Aaron Robert Keener; daughter-in-law, Joyce (Jackson) Keener; step-granddaughter, Missy Panei; his sisters, Myrtle Friend, Mary Lou Bouch, Margaret Turko, Eleanor Emery, Donna Keener; brother, Kenny; and three brother-in-laws, Clyde Friend, Stephen Turko, Richard Scott; and sister-in-law, Janet Keener.
Don’s family would like to that the nursing staff at ACMH for their care and the extra attention and assistance they gave the family in helping stay in contact with Don.
Keener — At the family’s request there will be no public visitation for Donald “Don” Griffin Keener, who died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020.
A family funeral service will be held at the Cornerstone Baptist Bible Church and Don will be buried in Lawn Haven Burial Estates in Worthington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cornerstone Baptist Bible Church, 17 Overlook Dr., Freeport, PA 16229.
Arrangements are under the direction of Redmond Funeral Home, 524 High St., Freeport.
To send a condolence visit, www.redmondfuneralhomeinc.com
