COLONEL (Retd) LAURENCE HENRY KEELAN, DFC

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COLONEL (Retd) LAURENCE HENRY KEELAN DFC, CD, BSc, MEng Colonel (Retd) Laurence Henry Keelan passed away on September 19, 2001, at the age of 78, after a valiant fight against cancer. He will be mourned forever by his wife Laverne; his sister Mary; and his six children, Leslie (Andy), Valerie, David (Monika), Tom (Theresa), Julie (Peter) and Dan. He was a well-loved Grandad and will be greatly missed by his nine grandchildren, Kathleen, Jaime, Alexandra, Christopher, Anthony, Brittany, Meghan, Jordan and Nicholaus; and his two great-grand-daughters, Sydney and Kennedy. He also leaves to mourn many special nieces and nephews as well as many close friends. Larry began his long and illustrious career in the military at the age of 20 when he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in May 1942, and served as a heavy bomber pilot with the famous 429 Bison Squadron. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for "fortitude, courage and devotion to duty in numerous operations over enemy territory". After the war he returned to the military, retiring as a Colonel and Commanding Officer of the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment at Cold Lake, AB, in 1974. His was a beloved career that spanned 32 years and which, along with his family, gave meaning and purpose to his life. A memorial service will take place at the Springfield Funeral Home, 2020 Springfield Rd., Kelowna, BC, at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 24. Bishop Fraser Berry will officiate. Please join us in celebrating Larrys life at a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in his name to the Canadian Cancer Society. We love you and well miss you, Dad.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 22, 2001