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Olmsted, Keith R.

Keith R. Olmsted, age 85, of Bear Creek, passed away Sunday, November 29, 2015 at Evergreen Care Center, Shawano.

Keith Richard Olmsted was born on June 24, 1930 in Clintonville to Richard and Maude (Lamberton) Olmsted. He helped Fred, Leonard, and Art Hoffmann dairy farm until 1949. Keith also worked as a mechanic for Lloyd Young for several years. He entered the U.S. Army and served in the Korean War from 1950 – 1953. Keith was united in marriage on June 16, 1954 to Joan E. Jarvais at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bear Creek. He hauled milk for his brother, Bob Olmsted, for a short time. Then he purchased the can milk route from his brothers-in-law, Roger Jarvais and Harold Jarvis. In 1960 the business was incorporated as Keith R. Olm-sted & Sons of Bear Creek. For 30 years he drove milk truck for Outagamie Producers Coop and kept increasing his routes, retiring in 1993. He was a proud member of the VFW Post #2663 of Bear Creek. Keith was a longtime active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and served as a Trustee / Treasury for six years. Along with Joe Roberts and some other parishioners, Keith devoted countless days to completing the renovation of the church back in 1997. His interests included fishing with his old buddies, Floyd, Leon, and Kenny; and going fishing out on Lake Michigan with his friend, Eric. For many years Keith also went pheasant hunting with his sons. He will be remembered most as a person who could fix anything, for his wonderful sense of humor, and he loved spending time with his large family.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Joan; and thirteen children: Mary (Ken) Hohensee of Bear Creek, Sue (John) Rusch of Shawano, Don (Charlotte) Olmsted of Bear Creek, Patty (Tom) Daley of Neenah, Joan (Jerry) Plumb of Clintonville, Dan (Chris) Olmsted of Bear Creek, Jim (friend Amy Haas) Olm-sted of Bear Creek, Mike (fiancée Sarah Janssen) Olmsted of Bear Creek, Jerry (Lisa) Olmsted of Clintonville, Andy (Lorry) Hoier of New London, John (Hazel) Hoier of New London, Rodney (Kara) Hoier of Hudson, and Amy (Manuel) Silva of Appleton. There are 25 grandchildren: Matt, Sammie Jo, Jonathon, Paul, Dawn, Rick, Alan, Zach, Dakota, Stephanie, Aaron, Emily, Olivia, Alex, Kaylee, Kara, Jake, Emma, Sam, Claire, Gabriella, Drew, Nick, Amanda, and Breanna. There are nine great-grandchildren: Max, Joey, Isabella, Nive, Lucas, McKenna, Ethan, Bristol, and Corbin. He is further survived by a brother, David Olmsted of Neenah, a sister-in-law, Kathy Jarvis of Bear Creek, nieces, nephews, many other rela-tives and friends. Keith is preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Mark, a brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Audrey Olmsted, and a sister-in-law, Eileen Olmsted. He is further preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Willard and Edith Jarvais, a brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Glenda Jarvais, a brother-in-law, Harold Jarvis, a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and June Hoier-Lillge, one niece, Kathy Hoier, and one nephew, Ted Jarvais.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 4th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bear Creek. Fr. John “Jack” Mullarkey will officiate and burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by members of the VFW Post #2663, Bear Creek; and VFW Post #664 and American Legion Post #63, both of Clintonville. Friends may call on Thursday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Beil-Didier Funeral Home, Clintonville, and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of mass at the church. Online condolences may be sent via www.beil-didier.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to “St. Mary’s Parish” for the Stained Glass Window Fund.

The family wishes to thank all the nurses and staff at Evergreen Care Center and Unity Hospice for the compassion and love given to Keith the past few months.

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