Keith Eugene Ivey

Keith Ivey, a master mechanic who was everyone’s go-to for fixing anything and an accomplished craftsman and sculptor whose wood and metal creations delighted family and friends, died on Dec 28 at his home in Lincoln, Neb. He was 93.

Keith had entered hospice care at home eight days earlier.

The only son of a radio and TV repairman, Keith spent most of his childhood in his father’s shop—John Ivey’s TV and Radio Repair Service in Raymond, Neb. He parlayed those skills into jobs as a mechanic at Surplus Center and later at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber plant, both in Lincoln.

Keith answered an ad for the Burden family's Surplus Center, a small surplus electric components business on West O street in Lincoln, in the early 1950s. When the company decided to expand into the boat motor business, it tapped Keith to learn how to repair the motors. That began a lifelong love of boats and motors. He especially loved working on his own boats and would pack up his family most weekends to water ski at Branched Oak lake in Raymond. He continued to water ski into his 80s.

In 1967, he found a different outlet for his mechanical skills at Goodyear, where his ideas for improving the company’s factory processes earned him company accolades and rewards. He retired from Goodyear in 1992 after 25 years.

Keith Eugene Ivey was born on Nov. 6, 1930 in Raymond, Neb., to John D and Marie (Thatcher) Ivey. He played high school baseball and basketball, participated in school plays, did odd jobs for the local farmers and businesses and sang in the choir at the Raymond Methodist Church. He loved to sing. Among his favorite memories was singing Danny Boy at a school event and By The Old Mill Stream when he was courting the childhood friend who would become his wife of 73 years, Marian Nelson. As he recalled frequently in later years, he would seek out chances to serenade her on the banks of the often-flooded Oak Creek, where a water-powered flour mill once stood. They were married in 1950 in Raymond and started their life together in Lincoln, where their three daughters were born. That same year, Keith enlisted in the Army Reserves and was assigned to the Lincoln-based Company D of the 355th Infantry. He rose to Sergeant First Class and was honorably discharged in 1956.

A year later, the couple was itching for more space and a more rural life. They bought a farm on the outskirts of Raymond, adjacent to the old flour mill remnants, built a house and enlisted a local farmer to work the land. But they liked getting their hands dirty and never tired of hard work. They labored long hours in their large flower, fruit and vegetable gardens, a passion that followed them to their two-acre home in southeast Lincoln, where they moved in 1985. When they downsized in 2021 and moved to The Legacy senior living home, they were still doing all of the yard work and gardening themselves. Keith loved his collection of John Deere tractors, which doubled as entertainment for his grandsons and great-grandsons, who loved being pulled around the grounds by their beloved “Great Pa.”

Keith’s pride and joy was his home shop, where family and friends would drop off a wide range of items in need of repair. His troubleshooting and fix-it skills and his extensive collection of tools were legendary. He loved the challenge and delighted in solving problems. He also developed a talent for building toys, yard sculptures, birdhouses and figurines that adorn the homes of many friends and family members.

In addition to boating and waterskiing, Keith enjoyed golfing and square dancing. He and Marian developed decades-long friendships with other members of their dance clubs and he relished regular breakfast meetups with former Goodyear pals, a tradition that continued until the Covid pandemic.

Keith is survived by his wife Marian, daughters Debra Whitefield (Barry Hanson), Barb McIntyre (Randy) and Janell Protiva (Bill), grandchildren Zachary McIntyre, Jason Protiva, Brent Protiva and Colby McIntyre, great-grandchildren Drew McIntyre, Abel Protiva, Deacon Protiva and Kaya Koraleski, sisters Janice Hornung and Phyllis Oliver and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life open house will be held Tuesday January 2, 2024 at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday January 3, 2024. Memorials are in the care of the family for future designation.