Kenneth J. Keller Sr.

To Kenneth J. Keller Sr., the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Kenneth, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Ken really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Ken was born on August 31, 1937 at Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Oregon. His parents were Joseph and Ruth Keller. Ken was raised in Portland, Oregon with his sister, Dolores.

All of Ken's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Ken experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in wrestling, football and track. He was a Scout and participated in band and choir. In his spare time he liked music and singing. Kenneth's memorable achievements included being on the honor roll and Sergeant at Arms.

Since experience was Ken's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Ken graduated from Milwaukie High School in 1955. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was choir. In high school, Ken was on the honor roll, achieved Sergeant at Arms and also lettered in wrestling, football and track.

Ken reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for fun with others. But for Ken, life was not a case of all play and no work. He relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. He earned his Doctorate of Law from the Northwestern School of Law in 1967. Ken remained on the honor roll throughout college.

Ken never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Ken to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. While growing up, one of his best friends was Ed Conolley. Later in life, he became friends with Bobby and Carol Warren and Mike Falkenstein. Ken loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

Ken was blessed with four children, Todd, Scott, Tom and K.J. He was also blessed with four grandchildren, Alex, Josh, Rachel and Trevor.

On June 13, 2003, Ken exchanged wedding vows with Janis Mae Keller in Oahu, Hawaii.

At work, as in life, Ken was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. When dealing with various projects and problems, Ken was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Ken's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see him as an excellent problem solver. He was employed for 15 years as prosecuting attorney for Multnomah County, 20 years as a parole and probation officer for Clackamas County, was appointed as Deputy District Attorney for Mult Co in 1973 and also worked for Legal Aid for a period of time.

Ken enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Ken liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were singing, golfing and coaching soccer. Ken was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Ken felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, he loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. In high school, he played football and participated in wrestling and track. Recreational sports included soccer and golf. Ken was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were Oregon Ducks football.

Living life in the fast lane suited Ken just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included trips to Hawaii, New Orleans, Houston, Vancouver B.C. and the Oregon Coast.

Ken was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of his favorites was Will, a pug Schnauzer. They were best friends for 3 years.

Ken believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1999, Ken took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Gladstone, Oregon. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Ken remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, he found new pleasure in traveling, listening to books on tape, Blazer games, concerts and meeting for dinner with friends. Even in retirement, Ken continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Ken passed away on December 26, 2012 at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. He is survived by his wife, Jan; sons, Todd, Scott, Tom and K.J.; sister, Dolores; grandchildren, Josh, Alex, Trevor, Rachel; and step-daughters, Mary and Wendy. Services were held at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in Portland, Oregon.

Ken brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Kenneth J. Keller Sr. lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.