Keith Baas

Witty, kind, and endlessly entertaining, Keith Baas lived a life rich in family, friendship, laughter, and adventure. He loved sailing, skiing, auto racing, rock and roll, theatre, storytelling, and a well-timed joke. Intelligent and wonderfully stubborn, Keith paired his sharp mind with a playful, sarcastic humor that could disarm almost anyone. His trademark smirk and favorite reminder, “Don’t take yourself too darn seriously,” brought levity even in difficult moments. Keith approached life the way he approached the theatre: fully committed, lights up, curtain raised. Whether backstage, at home, on the lake, or gathered around a dinner table, he had a gift for drawing people in and making every moment feel a little more alive. By embracing each day as a gift and giving his best to whatever role life handed him, Keith inspired countless others to do the same. A deeply loved husband, father, and friend, he leaves behind a standing ovation of cherished memories.

In 1952, America was brimming with optimism. “Singin’ in the Rain” premiered at Radio City Music Hall, Mr. Potato Head debuted on toy store shelves, and the world’s first passenger jet, the Comet, promised a future of faster travel and bigger possibilities. It was a hopeful era — and nowhere was hope more joyfully welcomed than in the home of Charles and Elizabeth (Fiebelkorn) Baas, who celebrated the birth of their son Keith on August 12 in Pontiac, Michigan.

Raised in Clawson, Michigan, Keith learned resilience and self-reliance early in life from his mother, a homemaker, and his father, who worked for General Motors. He also learned how to cook out of necessity. During one memorable family camping trip out west, the family car broke down, consuming nearly all their vacation money. They headed straight back to Michigan and survived for three days on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a story Keith loved to tell. Keith especially relished telling of the time he narrowly avoided arrest at a bonfire during his senior year of high school. While others were caught drinking, Keith jumped into his car, drove through a cornfield, and escaped the police. He considered it one of his finer moments.

A graduate of Clawson High School in 1970, Keith furthered his education at Western Michigan University, where he majored in political science and theatre. Though theatre ultimately stole the spotlight, Keith’s college years were anything but conventional. He took breaks from school to ski bum in Europe, work as a roadie for one of his favorite bands, Kansas, and serve as head race mechanic for an IMSA team before earning his degree.

While working on a production of Peter Pan at WMU’s Shaw Theatre, Keith had the good fortune of meeting Jane Thornbury. Jane played one of Tiger Lily’s side kicks, and Keith worked backstage helping Peter fly. After the cast party, Jane left a note on Keith's Opal GT, inviting him to dinner. Little did she know, Keith had already been talking about “the gal from the show” over the crew headsets backstage. He happily accepted her invitation, and the two quickly discovered they shared much in common.

Keith and Jane happily married on June 28, 1980, at Kanley Chapel on campus, with Cole Porter’s “Night and Day” accompanying their first dance as a couple. Soon after, Jane took a leave of absence to return to school. Keith quit his job, they rented out their house, and they moved to Cleveland. Keith never hesitated when it came to supporting the people he loved.

Keith worked many jobs before landing his dream job as the stage manager and lighting designer for the Chenery Auditorium in Kalamazoo. For 22 years, Keith lived where he was happiest: behind the curtain, in the booth, and at center stage without ever needing the spotlight on himself. He orchestrated the backstage world with calm authority, designing lighting and managing productions ranging from concerts and children’s choirs to political debates, guest speakers, and the annual Nutcracker Ballet.

Keith loved the magic of live performance — the quiet anticipation before the curtain rose, the organized chaos backstage, the way lighting could completely transform a room. He even brought that designer’s eye home, thoughtfully planning lighting and arranging furniture for household projects. A natural night owl, he thrived during long production nights and delighted in the community theatre created. Over the years, his work allowed him to meet performers including James Earl Jones, Diana Krall, Tony Bennett, and Bruce Hornsby. Yet for Keith, the real joy was never celebrity; it was helping create moments people would remember long after the house lights came up.

With summers often free from theatre work, Keith spent countless days at North Lake, where the family lived for 43 years. He loved boating, windsurfing, and competitive sailing races across Lake Michigan from South Haven and Holland. He also enjoyed tinkering with cars and caring for his beloved Mitsubishi Eclipse convertible.

Keith loved sharing his passions with his son, Colin. When Colin was two years old, Keith taught him to ski. With tiny skis, Keith balanced Colin between his legs, guiding him down the slope. When Colin dreamed of seeing Mount Rushmore, Keith helped make it happen. Although, they were surprised at how small the famous rock carving actually appeared. The trip included an unexpected and painfully expensive stay in Deadwood during Bike Week in South Dakota. Family adventures also took them to New Mexico, Colorado, and the Grand Canyon. Christmas traditions meant Christmas Eve in Detroit with Keith’s family, followed by Christmas morning flights to Connecticut to visit Jane’s family; empty holiday airplanes became part of the fun.

A man who found pleasure in the simple things, Keith was a musical omnivore. One of his favorite songs was "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas, though he equally enjoyed Diana Krall, classical music, and musical theatre. He savored prime rib paired with a good pinot noir or merlot, and never passed up spice cake with raisins and cream cheese frosting. After years of anticipation, he finally planted the rhododendron he had always wanted at home. In a final act of poetic timing, it bloomed for the first time just a few days ago.

As we celebrate Keith's life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories. May we also find comfort in the honor of carrying Keith's legacy of kindness, humor, and adventure forward. In every moment we gather with loved ones, support one another’s dreams, share a joke, attend a live performance, or pause to admire something beautiful in bloom, we carry Keith’s spirit forward. Though the curtain has fallen on a remarkable life, the warmth, humor, and light he brought to others will continue long after the final bow.

Keith Baas, of Kalamazoo, died May 8, 2026, at home in Kalamazoo. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and son, Colin. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Conrad, and his sister, Karen.

Please join us for a Life Story Celebration on Saturday, June 13, from 11 AM – 1 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900, where food, drinks, and stories can be shared. Celebrate Keith's life online by sharing stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Jane and Keith Baas Dance and Theatre Scholarship through the WMU Foundation or to a local non-profit.