Keith was born in Kansas City, Missouri March 10. 1932. He was the first born of Frank and Wilma Sheel. He originally lived in Kansas City, Missouri with his grandparents until his junior year in High School. Then he moved to La Junta, Colorado and lived with his parents, brothers & sisters. After High School he joined the Air Force. When boot camp was over Keith was stationed at Lowrey Air Force Base in Denver. He met Maxine Roberts at the Skateland roller rink in Denver. Keith and Maxine were engaged when Keith got orders to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
Keith was stationed at several bases here in the states before he was sent to Kadina Air Force Base on Okinawa. While in Okinawa he took tests to be in the first class at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Keith and his best friend passed all the tests and together they planned to make a career in the Air Force. Keith had built airplane models since a young age, and he LOVED flying and the Air Force. His best friend was killed, in a B29 airplane crash, when Keith was on his way back to the USA. Keith then chose not to go to the Academy. Keith and Maxine were married in November.1955.
Keith was a true gentleman and a man of his word. He was kind, always smiling, very talented, generous, and patient. He was a life member in Littleton Gem & Mineral Club and The Gem and Mineral Guild. He was active and volunteered many hours to The Denver Gem and Mineral Show and the Greater Denver Area Gem and Mineral Council and held office positions in both.
Keith was a true rockhound and loved nature. He dug many holes in the earth to find mineral specimens and material that he could make stones out of. He cut many beautiful stones from various gemstone material. He was a basic self-taught faceter, cabber, silver and gold smith. Keith's girls & friends loved those little boxes under the tree or at birthdays. He made many beautiful jewelry pieces for his family and friends. He taught and enjoyed sharing his knowledge teaching others the art of lapidary.
Keith was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was called "Grandpa Rocks" by great-grand-children because of his association and love for rocks.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, L J, Kay, Glenn, one sister Pam Snyman, one nephew, Nathan Snyman and one great-grandson, Uriah.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, three children; Norma (Scott) Rust, Harold (Nancy) Sheel and Michael Sheel, four granddaughters; Kendra (Harold), Kara, Nicole (Trevor) and Rachel, five great-grandchildren; Ailee, Gabriel, Lily, Addyson, Everleigh, one sister; Patsy Fontenot of Compton, California and many nieces & nephews.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Military Service
Burial - May 29, 2023
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Denver, Colorado
Keith was stationed at several bases here in the states before he was sent to Kadina Air Force Base on Okinawa. While in Okinawa he took tests to be in the first class at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Keith and his best friend passed all the tests and together they planned to make a career in the Air Force. Keith had built airplane models since a young age, and he LOVED flying and the Air Force. His best friend was killed, in a B29 airplane crash, when Keith was on his way back to the USA. Keith then chose not to go to the Academy. Keith and Maxine were married in November.1955.
Keith was a true gentleman and a man of his word. He was kind, always smiling, very talented, generous, and patient. He was a life member in Littleton Gem & Mineral Club and The Gem and Mineral Guild. He was active and volunteered many hours to The Denver Gem and Mineral Show and the Greater Denver Area Gem and Mineral Council and held office positions in both.
Keith was a true rockhound and loved nature. He dug many holes in the earth to find mineral specimens and material that he could make stones out of. He cut many beautiful stones from various gemstone material. He was a basic self-taught faceter, cabber, silver and gold smith. Keith's girls & friends loved those little boxes under the tree or at birthdays. He made many beautiful jewelry pieces for his family and friends. He taught and enjoyed sharing his knowledge teaching others the art of lapidary.
Keith was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was called "Grandpa Rocks" by great-grand-children because of his association and love for rocks.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, L J, Kay, Glenn, one sister Pam Snyman, one nephew, Nathan Snyman and one great-grandson, Uriah.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, three children; Norma (Scott) Rust, Harold (Nancy) Sheel and Michael Sheel, four granddaughters; Kendra (Harold), Kara, Nicole (Trevor) and Rachel, five great-grandchildren; Ailee, Gabriel, Lily, Addyson, Everleigh, one sister; Patsy Fontenot of Compton, California and many nieces & nephews.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Military Service
Burial - May 29, 2023
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Denver, Colorado
Keith was born in Kansas City, Missouri March 10. 1932. He was the first born of Frank and Wilma Sheel. He originally lived in Kansas City, Missouri with his grandparents until his junior year in High School. Then he moved to La Junta, Colorado and lived with his parents, brothers & sisters. After High School he joined the Air Force. When boot camp was over Keith was stationed at Lowrey Air Force Base in Denver. He met Maxine Roberts at the Skateland roller rink in Denver. Keith and Maxine were engaged when Keith got orders to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
Keith was stationed at several bases here in the states before he was sent to Kadina Air Force Base on Okinawa. While in Okinawa he took tests to be in the first class at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Keith and his best friend passed all the tests and together they planned to make a career in the Air Force. Keith had built airplane models since a young age, and he LOVED flying and the Air Force. His best friend was killed, in a B29 airplane crash, when Keith was on his way back to the USA. Keith then chose not to go to the Academy. Keith and Maxine were married in November.1955.
Keith was a true gentleman and a man of his word. He was kind, always smiling, very talented, generous, and patient. He was a life member in Littleton Gem & Mineral Club and The Gem and Mineral Guild. He was active and volunteered many hours to The Denver Gem and Mineral Show and the Greater Denver Area Gem and Mineral Council and held office positions in both.
Keith was a true rockhound and loved nature. He dug many holes in the earth to find mineral specimens and material that he could make stones out of. He cut many beautiful stones from various gemstone material. He was a basic self-taught faceter, cabber, silver and gold smith. Keith's girls & friends loved those little boxes under the tree or at birthdays. He made many beautiful jewelry pieces for his family and friends. He taught and enjoyed sharing his knowledge teaching others the art of lapidary.
Keith was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was called "Grandpa Rocks" by great-grand-children because of his association and love for rocks.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, L J, Kay, Glenn, one sister Pam Snyman, one nephew, Nathan Snyman and one great-grandson, Uriah.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, three children; Norma (Scott) Rust, Harold (Nancy) Sheel and Michael Sheel, four granddaughters; Kendra (Harold), Kara, Nicole (Trevor) and Rachel, five great-grandchildren; Ailee, Gabriel, Lily, Addyson, Everleigh, one sister; Patsy Fontenot of Compton, California and many nieces & nephews.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Military Service
Burial - May 29, 2023
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Denver, Colorado
Keith was stationed at several bases here in the states before he was sent to Kadina Air Force Base on Okinawa. While in Okinawa he took tests to be in the first class at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Keith and his best friend passed all the tests and together they planned to make a career in the Air Force. Keith had built airplane models since a young age, and he LOVED flying and the Air Force. His best friend was killed, in a B29 airplane crash, when Keith was on his way back to the USA. Keith then chose not to go to the Academy. Keith and Maxine were married in November.1955.
Keith was a true gentleman and a man of his word. He was kind, always smiling, very talented, generous, and patient. He was a life member in Littleton Gem & Mineral Club and The Gem and Mineral Guild. He was active and volunteered many hours to The Denver Gem and Mineral Show and the Greater Denver Area Gem and Mineral Council and held office positions in both.
Keith was a true rockhound and loved nature. He dug many holes in the earth to find mineral specimens and material that he could make stones out of. He cut many beautiful stones from various gemstone material. He was a basic self-taught faceter, cabber, silver and gold smith. Keith's girls & friends loved those little boxes under the tree or at birthdays. He made many beautiful jewelry pieces for his family and friends. He taught and enjoyed sharing his knowledge teaching others the art of lapidary.
Keith was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was called "Grandpa Rocks" by great-grand-children because of his association and love for rocks.
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, L J, Kay, Glenn, one sister Pam Snyman, one nephew, Nathan Snyman and one great-grandson, Uriah.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, three children; Norma (Scott) Rust, Harold (Nancy) Sheel and Michael Sheel, four granddaughters; Kendra (Harold), Kara, Nicole (Trevor) and Rachel, five great-grandchildren; Ailee, Gabriel, Lily, Addyson, Everleigh, one sister; Patsy Fontenot of Compton, California and many nieces & nephews.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Military Service
Burial - May 29, 2023
Fort Logan National Cemetery
Denver, Colorado
Inscription
SSGT
US AIR FORCE
KOREA
