On December, 22nd, 1925, Ken Keiser (we call him gpa) was born, and then on May, 16th, 2008, he was ripped violently from my family. At 3am he went to have a cigarette, and managed to light himself on fire along with my grandmother’s green house. He suffered 3rd degree burns over I believe 40 percent of his body. At around 8:30pm he drew his last breath. To many this would come as traumatic, but to my family it was crushing. About 20 years ago my Uncle Chris suffered an electrical burn, and while he was in the hospital my gma went with my gpa Ken. Upon seeing her son lying in the hospital charred up, and in a lot of pain my gma’s knees buckled. As one can easily assume the tables were turned 20 years later when my Uncle Chris had to catch my gma after seeing her husband charred just the same as it did when he was in the hospital. This had also brought back memories for my Uncle, however he was a true hero and it is not how this hero died, it is how he LIVED.
He grew up, and remembered the tail end of the great depression. He knew what being poor was like, and rose above it with vigor, and became one of the greatest men I ever had the honor of knowing. This man, I proudly say was my grandfather. He was kind, caring, strong, brave, and gave my beloved grandmother the best 30 years of her life.
My gpa, Ken served in World War 2 as a Marine, then went on to serve 30 years in the NAVY. While he lived through many battles, he did not come out unscathed. He lost about 80 percent of his hearing when he was under water, and a grenade went off, in Japan. This meant for a long time one had to yell at him when speaking to him. Sadly, it did make him a bit depressed due to the fact that he was never sure if you were simply trying to tell him something, or if you were truly yelling at him.
My gpa was the kind of man that should anyone he cared about made even a hint at needing help, without even thinking twice, nor anyone asking was suiting up to help. I remember many times he helped my beloved Mother make furniture that my parents still own. He helped my gma around her farm until it was no longer physically possible. He helped shape me into being the same way.
In his later years his health as one would expect worsened. By the time he passed away he was on 13 different med’s a day along with not being able to do uch more than take small walks.
My gpa was a police officer, a warden at Alcatraz, and professor to the men, and women of the NAVY. He loved to be abroad, and saw much of the world in his 82 years on Earth. He touched lives, and always made his presence a blessing to those he met. He was a great grandfather, father, and husband to my gma. His friends loved him like a brother. He is sorely missed by us all. Though he is missed, all who love him know that he is now at sea again having the adventure he dreamed of. He was, and always will be my special gpa, and when I visit the ocean I will know that he is there… May his adventure be everything he wished for!
