Adams 1955 G. Kent Keller

Jan. 11, 1937 - Mar. 9, 2016

SOUTH BEND - Kent Keller died March 9, 2016, at his home in Estes Park, CO.

Kent Keller loved his sweetheart and best friend of 61 years and wife of 56 years, Janet Golba. They were married on June 20, 1959. He loved their three children, Kurt, Edie, Katie, and their families, and was very proud of them and their commitments in their work to serving people, especially the poor, and to science.

Born on January 11, 1937, in South Bend, Indiana, Kent was the son of Marjorie (Cookingham) and George E. Keller. After graduating as valedictorian of his John Adams High School class, he attended and received degrees from Yale University magna cum laude (1959) and Yale Divinity School (1962). At Yale he belonged to the Scroll and Key Senior Society. He was ordained as a Presbyterian pastor and served four pastorates: Dewey Avenue Presbyterian Church in Rochester, New York (1962-68); the United Parish of Montbello in Denver, Colorado (1968-74); First Presbyterian Church in Portland, Indiana (1974-87); and First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, Michigan (1987-2002).

Among his involvements during retirement in Estes Park were the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks, the Interfaith Alliance (ministerial association), the Estes Park Church of the Air (as newsletter chairman and treasurer), the Estes Valley Land Trust (as Board member and Educational Events Committee chairman), Estes Park Newcomers, Estes Park Trail Trekkers (as a hike leader), the Colorado Mountain Club (as a hike leader), and the American Alpine Club.

Keller's favorite activities and interests included his family, his grandchildren's sporting events, mountain climbing, hiking, backpacking, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, travel, wildlife, flowers, photography, reading (especially theology and history), classical music, bicycling, genealogy, bridge, board games, and Christmas.

Surviving him are his wife, their children, Kurt (and Cristina) Keller of La Crescenta, California, Edie Keller (and Jerry Twigg) of Estes Park, and Katie Keller Lynn (and David Lynn) of Vancouver, B.C., his sister, Karen Arsenault of Voorhees, New Jersey, and four grandchildren, August, Sam, Frankie and Marjorie Grace.

At a date to be determined in spring/summer 2016, a memorial service will be held at the Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies in Estes Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, the Estes Valley Land Trust, or the United Church of Montbello (4879 Crown Blvd., Denver, CO 80239). See www.allnutt.com for more information.