Richard "Rich" J. Keene, Sr

Richard J. "Rich" Keene, Sr, age 82, of Potosi, passed away on Friday, July 7, 2017, at his home. He was born on October 26, 1934, in Potosi, the son of Arthur and Mathilda (Milke) Keene. Richard attended British Hollow School and graduated from Potosi in 1952. He was united in marriage to Marlene Mary Fritz on April 6, 1954, at Davies Memorial Church of Christ in Potosi. Richard worked with his dad on the Keene Family Farm in Potosi. He drove milk truck for Art Donley Cheese Factory in Potosi for a short time. He then purchased a fleet of trucks consisting of semis and straight trucks starting RJ Keene Trucking. Richard's passion was farming, so after successful years of trucking, Richard and Marlene moved to the Lancaster area to start farming on their own. His heart was still set on the family farm in Potosi, so they moved back to the family farm where they have farmed ever since. Richard served 33 years on the Potosi School Board where he had the pleasure of handing two of his children and six of his grandchildren their diplomas. He served as a Deacon for Davies Memorial Church of Christ for many years.

Survivors include his loving wife of 63 years, Marlene; his daughter, Peggy (Bob) Miller, Lancaster and granddaughter, Stephanie Miller; daughter, Carol (John "Jack") Hayes, Verona and granddaughter Katie (Wesley) Austin-Nash and great-grandchildren Ella and Sawyer and grandson Ryan (Jacqui) Hayes and great-grandchild Jack; son Richard "Dick" Keene, Jr, Potosi and granddaughter Tabitha (Andrew) Meier and great-grandchild Penny, grandson Joe (Kari) Keene, granddaughter Reba Keene, and grandson Tom Keene; son-in-law, Patrick Adams, Potosi, and granddaughter Sarah Adams and grandson Brad Adams; daughter, Sheila Keene (Rick Wedig), Deforest; brother-in-law, Delbert Fritz, Potosi; and by special family friend, Beth Kruser and her family.

In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by a daughter, Nancy Joy Adams and a daughter-in-law, Kristine (Knoke) Keene; his siblings: Norma Jean (Hank) Kosharek, Marion (Robert) Wolf, Walter (Doris) Keene and a sister-in-law, Elaine Fritz.

Funeral services will be on Monday, July 10, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory, 1234 S Madison St., Lancaster, with Reverend Jim McMahon officiating. Private family burial will be in British Hollow Cemetery, Potosi Township. Family and friends may call on Sunday, July 9, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home and on Monday from 10:00 a.m. until time of services. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Richard J. Keene, Sr. Memorial Fund has been established.