Michael B. “Chief” Keim, Sr., 84, of Sterling, died Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at a Lincoln hospital. He was born on September 8, 1937 at Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1955. On February 15, 1958 he married the love of his life, Judy Christensen at Los Angeles, CA and they created quite a married adventure. Mike served in the U.S. Navy for over 22 years and they moved all around the United States. They were blessed with three children who were born in California, Florida and Rhode Island. He was a photographer in the Navy and helped chart Antarctica. In fact a peak in Antarctica was named Keim Peak. In 1972 they settled in Sterling. Following his retirement from the Navy he attended Southeast Community College for welding tech. In 1980 he built a welding shop in Sterling and did welding for the area farmers, fixing anything except “crack of dawn and break of day.” He also did work at many power plants throughout the United States. Chief enjoyed baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox, fishing waters all across the nation, hunting all across the land, attending Husker football, watching the NFL games, and traveling to many, many places.
Survivors include two sons, Michael B. Keim, Jr., and his wife Robin of Warsaw, MO and David Keim and Kristi Ambroz of Sterling; one daughter, Michelle Schiebur and her husband Jeff of Wymore; eight grandchildren, Melissa Karel of Gretna, Kelli Keim of Lincoln, Michael J. Keim of Clatonia, Ashley Schoening of Springfield, Kelsey Schiebur of Lincoln, Megan Emons of Seward, Emily Schanse of Houston, and Valerie Keim of Lincoln; nine great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Hunter, and Owen Emons, Matthew and Andrew Karel, DaNyshia and DaMonte Keim, Millie Jackson, Sawyer Schoening, and another due in November 2022; sister, Nancy Larson of Talkeetna, Alaska; sisters-in-law, Vera Wolfe of Green Valley, AZ and Diane Christensen of Canyon County, CA; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy, who died on January 6, 2022; his mother, Naida Kennedy Rodenbeck; step-father, Alfred Rodenbeck; parents-in-law, Herluf and Alpha Hermansen Christensen; brother-in-law, David Christensen; sister-in-law, Donna (Melvin) Stanley.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, August 15, 2022, at the Sterling Community Center with Jon Palmquist officiating. Inurnment of the cremains will be at the Sterling Cemetery of Sterling. Military rites will be conducted by the U.S. Navy and the Sterling American Legion. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to Disabled American Veterans. Cremation has taken place and there will be no viewing. A book for signatures will be available on Sunday, August 14, 2022, from noon until 8:00 P.M. at the Zink-Fox Funeral Home. www.foxfuneralhome.net Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling is in charge of the arrangements.
Michael B. Keim September 8, 1937 - August 10, 2022
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