Robert E. Keller

Bob was born in Chicago, IL to Harry and Sadie Keller. After graduating high school, he attended Bradley University on a football scholarship. While attending, the Korean War was going on and he wanted to be involved. Bob served in the Ninth Coast Guard District. He was sent to the Philippines where he was involved with piloting around five Loran Stations scattered around the islands. After two years he was transferred to Hawaii. Bob met his wife-to-be, Stacia Keller, while stationed in Hawaii. He was discharged in 1957 and returned home to Chicago where Stacia was based with TWA Airlines. They dated and married in 1958. Bob then worked for Colgate Palmolive for a year and half and decided to go back to college. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Northwestern University. He worked for General Mills handling management of plants in Chicago and St. Charles, IL and Louisville, KY. After working 20 years with General Mills, Bob moved to Tallahassee and owned the Big Top Deli in the Governor’s Square Mall for fifteen years. After that, Bob worked as an Investment Broker for A.G. Edwards and Raymond James for another fifteen years until he retired in 2005.

Bob was an active member in the community. He was a member of the Gulf Winds Track Club and competed in over 1,000 running events and approximately forty triathlon events. Through these race events, he and Stacia had the opportunity to travel to many countries in Europe and Asia and cities across the United States. Bob was instrumental bringing the Senior Games to Tallahassee. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 13.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Stacia of sixty-two years; his parents; sisters, Harriet, Dorothy, and Muriel; and his brother, Jack. He will be remembered by his daughters, Karen Davenport (Louie) of Apopka, FL and Laura Smith (Terry) of Waco, TX; and grandchildren, Cade, Talan and Emmaleigh.

A Celebration of Bob’s life will be held on Friday, December 10th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 700 Timberlane Rd, Tallahassee, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org/.