Robert "Bob" Keller

Bob Keller passed away peacefully on Friday evening, May 8th at Rose Arbor Hospice. He was 87.

Robert Cletus Keller was born on February 15, 1939 to Ethel (McDonald) Keller and Francis Keller in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Bob started his early years with a bang when he was hit by a car crossing South Westnedge Avenue at the age of 7. He spent most of his second grade year living as an inpatient at U of M. As a result of this ordeal, Bob lost and never regained his sense of smell. He accepted this condition with easygoing good humor, which set the tone for how he lived his life.

Bob grew up attending Saint Augustine Catholic schools, where he was a good student and standout basketball player. At a young age, his father set up a basket for him in the backyard, where he would practice free throws for hours. There were many highlights to Bob’s basketball career at St. A’s, including leading the team in baskets, rebounds and achieving all-league honors. However, the pinnacle was during his junior year, when Bob scored 3 points in the final 3 seconds of the game (pre-3 point shot!) to beat crosstown rival Kalamazoo Christian. For decades after, Kalamazoo Gazette sports writers would reminisce in print about this achievement in the “This and That” column. The day after the game, January 11, 1956, was declared “Bob Keller Day” at Saint A’s.

During his sophomore year in high school he went on a date to the St. A’s football game but ended up sitting next to and falling for Karen Marie Hurlbert instead. Bob and Karen were sweethearts forever after. They married in 1961 while Bob was still a student at Western Michigan University and Karen was a newly minted French teacher at Oakwood Junior High (now Woods Lake Elementary School).

After graduation, Bob joined Professional Management, Inc. (PM) and spent the next 37 years as an accountant and tax consultant to physicians and dentists in Southwest Michigan. He had a particular gift for retirement plan architecture and administration. For years after his retirement in 2000, he heard from clients that they credited Bob with their ability to retire comfortably and securely. These words were a great gift to him.

Bob was a very active and engaged family man. He spent what little vacation time he had away from work enjoying summer vacations on Long Lake in Grand Traverse County with extended family, serving not only the role of dad but also a very special “Uncle Bob” to several nieces and nephews. He was a committed Boy Scout leader during his son’s time in the scouts, overseeing many weekend camping trips and a week-long backpacking trip to Isle Royale. He was also committed to attending his children’s sporting events, cheering them on at countless soccer and football games and cross country races. He would cross the country himself to offer support with moves or caring for grandchildren.

Bob lost his dear Karen to cancer after almost 36 years of marriage, when he was 58 years old. He navigated this loss with predictable industry and learned to live alone for the first time in his life, traveling, spending time with family, volunteering in the community, and nurturing his deep love for the outdoors.

Throughout his life, he spent many happy hours hunting and fishing in West Michigan. Bob was quite a resource in this regard and later in life he enjoyed dispensing advice on how to target various species of fish on specific lakes, rivers and streams. It seemed there wasn’t a lake in the area that he didn’t have experience fishing. He also took many destination fishing trips to Canada and Alaska. In his fifties he became a deer hunter and enjoyed this pursuit immensely, hunting every season until he was 85 years old.

Later in life, he developed a relationship with a special friend, Marlena Yealin, who lived across the street in their Westnedge Hill neighborhood, and they enjoyed each other's company for many years. He lived in the family home for over fifty years, until 2025, when he moved to Friendship Village – an experience and a community he enjoyed very much. As his health began to fail, the staff at FV was a true blessing. Bob spent his final days receiving excellent care at Rose Arbor Hospice.

Bob is survived by a son Rob and daughter-in-law Donna Perry Keller, a daughter Sarah and son-in-law Jonathan Mastro, and four grandchildren, Ava Keller, Will Keller, Greta Mastro, and Autumn Mastro. In lieu of flowers Memorial contributions can be directed to The Friendship Village Employee Appreciation Fund or Centrica Care Rose Arbor Hospice.

Please join us at a Life Story Service on Tuesday, May 12, at 11 AM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. Visitation will begin at 10 AM. Celebrate Bob’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on his dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.