“Death. To die. To expire. To pass on. To perish. To peg out. To push up daisies. To push up posies. To become extinct. Curtains…And if we bury you ass up, I have got a place to park my bike.” – Patch Adams, 1998, one of Jeffrey’s favorite movies
Jeffrey Joe Keeler, a quick-witted jokester and avid storyteller, passed away August 18, 2025 at the age of 81 from congestive heart failure, with his loving wife by his side.
As much as he enjoyed hunting, taxidermy, and travel, he would rather be fishing somewhere up north on Little Bass Lake or on Pleasant Lake in Annandale, Minn.
Jeffrey loved classic cars more than—er, longer than—his wife. That first love began at the Minneapolis Armory Car Show with four-year-old Jeffrey on his father’s shoulders. If you were lucky enough to be in his presence when he saw a hot rod drive by, Jeffrey would rattle off the make, model, year, paint color, and any other details you really didn’t want to know. Through the years he owned over 26 classic cars—his favorite being a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. It was therefore meant to be that he would marry a ’57 in his golden years.
With his love for classic cars, it was almost predestined that he would become a DJ at those very car shows. He turned that passion into generosity, raising charitable donations for activities (like fishing, archery, and other water sports) and equipment (like a pontoon) for Camp Courage in Maple Lake, Minn. Jeffrey also spent countless hours at the camp with physically challenged kids.
Jeffrey’s compassion and generosity was far reaching: donating backpacks filled with school supplies or necessary items for the unhoused, gifting used cars, wheelchairs, gift cards for gas money, or even a few extra bucks…Jeffrey gave until his own pockets were turned out and empty. Over the past 10 years, he gave away over 400 Jesus Calling books to practically everyone within arm’s reach.
He was preceded in death by parents John and Lois Keeler; brothers Michael, John, and Stephen; and sisters Susin and Patti. He is survived by his wife Christine, brother Tommy, sisters Amy and Joann, and his many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the 21st Century Bank Event Center, 12716 Main St, Rogers, MN 55374.
Jeffrey would tell you how much you are loved, to forgive one another, and that there is nothing love can’t cure.
“You see, George, you’ve really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?”– It’s a Wonderful Life, 1946, another of Jeffrey’s favorites