Keith Spencer Minard of Sheridan, Wyoming and formerly of Spirit Lake, Iowa, died peacefully Sunday morning, February 23, at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. He was 87 years old.
Keith was born in Alta, Iowa to Leland and Ethelyn Minard. He had one brother, Terry. After high school, he was in the Naval ROTC program and attended DePauw University, Montana School of Mines, University of California at Berkley, and graduated with a degree in Agricultural Engineering from Iowa State University.
He accepted a job with Oliver Corporation in Charles City, Iowa. He married Mary Lou Palmer in 1949. In 1964 he went to work for Deere and Company in Moline, IL. At Deere he worked in jobs with increasing responsibilities and retired in 1989 as Manager, Worldwide Agricultural Tractor Engineering in Waterloo, IA. After retirement, he and Mary Lou moved to Spirit Lake, IA. He loved fishing from his dock or in his boat, hunting, and golfing.
Keith will be greatly missed by his three children Phil Minard (Sue) of Lenexa, KS; Michele Muecke (John) of Sheridan, WY; and Jill Harake (Fadi) of Huntington Beach, CA; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, and wife of 59 years, Mary Lou.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place in Spirit Lake, Iowa in late June. Arrangements are with Champion Ferries Funeral Home.
Memorials to honor Keith can be made to the Mayo Clinic Cancer Research Program online at: philanthropy.mayoclinic.org or mailed to Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905.