Calvin "Cal" Leon Keil

Calvin Leon Keil passed away March 19, 2020 from natural causes (just as the Covid-19 pandemic began and on his daughter, Karen’s, birthday) at Belleview Heights Assisted Living and Memory Care in Aurora, Colorado where he resided. Calvin was born December 16, 1930 (a month earlier than he was due) to William R. Keil and Gena S. (nee Knudson) Keil 1930 in the family home on Walnut Street in Redwood Falls, a southern Minnesota farming community with a population of about 4,000. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls, MN. Calvin grew up in Redwood Falls, first at the family’s home in town when his father worked as a state highway maintenance man and later at his grandmother’s farm where they moved to care for her before her death. Calvin and his brothers helped their father work the farm while his father also continued to work for the state highway department. As a boy, he enjoyed participating in the 4-H Club and raised pigs to take to the fair in hopes of winning ribbons or to sell to interested buyers. He graduated from Redwood Falls High School in 1948.

Calvin’s military career began with the Minnesota National Guard in December of 1948 where the unit was activated in 1951 during the Korean War. In June 1951, after Armored School at Ft. Rucker, AL, he arrived in Korea and was assigned to the 79th Engineer Construction Battalion with the US Army as Platoon Sgt. until he was discharged in September of 1952.

Seven months later (April 1953), realizing that military life was his career choice, he enlisted in the USAF and was assigned to Offutt AFB near Omaha, NE. He also attended Special Weapons School at Lowry AFB. From March 1954 to June 1963, he was assigned to Fairchild AFB (near Spokane, WA), Thule AFB (Greenland), Goose Bay (Labrador) and McCoy AFB (FL).

While stationed at Fairchild AFB, Calvin met and, three months later, married the love of his life, Joyce E. Neal on August 18, 1956 in Oroville, WA (Joyce’s hometown). After a honeymoon to Canada, they lived in Spokane. In 1959, Cal received orders for McCoy AFB in Orlando. He and Joyce, along with their young daughter, Karen, made the long cross-country road trip to move to Florida, stopping in Calvin's hometown, Redwood Falls, MN, to visit relatives. Calvin's father, William Keil accompanied them for the rest of the memorable trip to Florida.

In June of 1963, Calvin joined MEST (Munitions Eval/Standardization Team) at McConnell AFB (KS). A year later, the MEST team moved to Offutt AFB to form MSET (Maintenance Standardization and Evaluation Team). In March of 1966, during the Vietnam War, he deployed to Ubon (Thailand) serving in NCOIC Munitions Storage (an area designated for the storage and maintenance of large quantities of explosive materials) leaving his family behind, including his wife who was pregnant with their fourth child. His youngest child, Brenda, was born in August of 1966 and he wouldn’t meet her until she was 6 months old.

In March of 1967, Cal returned to Offutt AFB and MSET where he assisted Boeing (Wichita, KS) with the development of B-52 modifications increasing bomb load which were later used in Vietnam & SE Asia. From June 1969 to May 1972, he was stationed at SAC (Strategic Air Command) Headquarters at Offutt AFB researching and developing Technical Data SRAM Missile for B-52, FB-111 and B-1 Aircraft. He served as the only enlisted member of SAC Source Selection Board for B-1 Aircraft; evaluated weapons area.

On October 4, 1970, Calvin’s life (and those of his wife and children) took an abrupt turn when he was involved in a head-on automobile accident in Otero, NM while on TDY at Holloman AFB, NM. He was a passenger in a vehicle that was enroute to El Paso, TX when the vehicle he was riding in was hit by a vehicle driven by a drunk driver. Calvin suffered a spiral fracture to his left tibia, a broken ankle, broken finger and a serious head injury. He was left disabled with a life-long brain injury and his left leg shorter than his right which caused long-term hip problems. Suffering from the brain injury, he struggled to perform the duties of his position and, as a result, made the extremely difficult decision to retire from the USAF as a CMSGT (E-9) on May 31, 1972.

His most valued military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Senior Missileman Badge.

While in the military, Cal enjoyed his time at Lowry AFB in Denver, so decided to make Denver the family’s home, post military retirement. There he worked for Kwal Paints and later as an Animal Warden with Arapahoe County. While working as an Animal Warden, he enjoyed giving presentations to local elementary school students bringing awareness to a career as an Animal Warden. He retired from Arapahoe County on January 20, 1996 after more than 20 years of service.

In his full retirement, Cal volunteered as a tutor at Vassar Elementary School in the Aurora Public School District through the Oasis Program. He and Joyce were active members in various military organizations: Korean War Vets Association-Queen City Chapter #195, E-9ers of Colorado Association, NAUS, Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA) and Clyde Seiler DAV. He was also a long-time and active Member at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO. Cal and Joyce also enjoyed traveling to various reunions and group trips on a bus to various Colorado locations. In his heyday, Cal enjoyed hunting and fishing and he played a mean game of ping pong! His kids will never, ever, forget how great it was when he spent time pushing them on the swings at the playground behind their house in Capehart Housing near Offutt AFB!

Calvin Keil was survived by four children, Karen Keil, Kathy (Russel) Norris, Jeffrey Keil, and Brenda Keil (two-time heart transplant recipient subsequently passed away 1/2/21), two grandsons, Dustin (Catherine) Lee, and Brandon (Kara) Lee, and great-granddaughters, Vera Rose Lee and Molly Rose Lee, of Colorado, a sister, Marie Stelter, a sister-in-law, Martha Keil, three nieces, a nephew as well as various other relatives. Another great-granddaughter, Josie Jean Lee, of Colorado was born after his death in 2021 to grandson, Brandon (Kara) Lee. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, three brothers (Edwin, Robert and Wilbur Keil), sister, Lois Clarken and various other relatives.

Donations may be made in Calvin’s name to Disabled American Veterans (P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301) –OR— any military organization of your choice.

A Memorial Service with Military Honors will take place at 1PM on July 23, 2022 at Olinger Hampden Mortuary, Cremation & Cemetery in Denver, CO (www.dignitymemorial.com/funeral-homes/denver-co/olinger-hampden-mortuary-cemetery/4958) – Online condolences may be placed there as well.