In Memory

Don Keil

Don Keil

Donald Mark Keil

April 29, 1949 - January 23, 2021

Donald Mark Keil, born April 29, 1949, went to his eternal home with his Savior Jesus Christ, on January 23, 2021. He was surrounded by his family singing hymns & reading Scriptures to him.

Don is survived by his wife of 46 years, Debbie, along with their children whom he loved and adored: daughter Carrie & her husband Bryan Mentz; daughter Lisa; & son David & his wife Katie. Don has three grandchildren, Avery & Aiden Mentz and Brooks Keil, who were the delight of his life. Don is also survived by his mother Margie Keil; his brothers, Kenwood Keil & his wife Carol; Stuart Keil & his wife Darenda; sister in law Linda Peterson; brother in law Gene Reynolds as well as several nieces & nephews.

Those who reached heaven before Don are his dad Melvin Karl Keil, as well as his father & mother in law Bobby & Mary Reynolds, & brother in law Glenn Peterson.

Don grew up in Houston, TX and graduated from Waltrip High School. He attended SHSU where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology followed by a master’s degree in Education. It was at Sam Houston where Don placed his faith in Christ, learning of forgiveness & salvation through the Navigator ministry. It was also through Navigators that Don met Debbie, & they married in 1974. God quickly revealed their calling of planting a Bible Church in Huntsville, having attended Conroe Bible Church together in college. Their ministry lasted 20 years until the church’s merge with the Fellowship of Huntsville in 1998, where Don continued as a faithful member & servant.

Don worked for TDCJ for the majority of his employment years, having to retire in 2005 as the Assistant Director of Religious Programs due to medical issues. He later taught at Alpha Omega Academy, followed by his final job as the Managing Editor for The Echo, a prison newspaper. Don had to make the decision to retire again in 2017 due to more serious medical issues. 

In a word, Don was a faithful man. He was faithful to the Lord, being involved in numerous ways to teach God’s Word & promote His kingdom. He was faithful to his family to provide for them & protect them. Don was faithful to friends & to his church. Who else would give 20 years to keep a ministry going for the sake of others having a Bible-teaching church to attend? It was an expression of his love of family & friends to do so.

For those who wish to do so, in lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions in Don’s name be directed to Prison Fellowship, a cause close to Don’s heart. Prison Fellowship works to restore America’s criminal justice system and those it affects using a biblical worldview. (www.prisonfellowship.org)

Acts 20: 24 

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of God’s grace.”
Published by Waller-Thornton Funeral Home - Huntsville, LLP on Jan. 29, 2021.

 

A Celebration of Don’s Life was held at the Fellowship of Huntsville Church in Huntsville, TX on Jan 27, 2021.



 
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04/22/23 05:06 PM #1    

Pat Clooney (King)

Found this photo of Don today - from the Black Jr. High days, I suppose. 
Such a sweet smile!

 


 


04/24/23 03:06 PM #2    

Cliff Meggers

What an accomplished and caring life Don lived. God bless him. 


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