By Jim Meridith
Posted: Updated:
13 Comments
  • Visitation

    1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
    Wednesday, September 16, 2020
    Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church
    Mt. Erie, Illinois

  • Service

    3:00 pm
    Wednesday, September 16, 2020
    Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church
    Mt. Erie, Illinois

    Burial will be in Brown Cemetery.

    Due to COVID-19 and an Illinois mandate, please follow social distancing and face mask recommendations.

  • Full Obituary

    WALTER LEE KEYSER, 90, of Fairfield, Illinois passed away Friday, September 11, 2020 at Fairfield Memorial Hospital at Fairfield, Illinois.

    Walter was born October 7, 1929 at Geff, Illinois to Samuel A. and Nellie (Fitch) Keyser.  He married Iva Lorene Myers April 2, 1949 at Henderson, Kentucky and she preceded him in death June 14, 1994.  He later married Bernadine (Murphy) Lee July 1, 1995 at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church near Mt. Erie, Illinois and she survives.

    Walter was a farmer, retired after thirty years as District Director with USDA and FCIC, and, also worked in the oil business for twenty years as a Claim Adjuster for Elysium Oil.  He was a member of the Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church for eighty years and was a clerk and trustee for forty years. He was a boy scout leader at Mt. Erie and loved to fish and hunt.  Over the years, he made over seventy-five trips to Canada hunting and fishing.  He was known to many as “Moose Hunter”.

    Walter is survived by his wife Bernadine Keyser of Fairfield; one daughter Sherry (Kim Hofer) Baker of Edwardsville; three sons Larry (Donna) Keyser of Cisne, Sam (Teresa) Keyser and Greg (Kim) Keyser of Geff; one step-son Steve Lee and one step-daughter Carole Ann (Bill) Musgrave of Fairfield; and one foster brother Dean (Dorothy) Lambrich of Cisne.  Also surviving are thirteen grandchildren Eric (Georgia) Keyser of Portland, Oregon, Erin Keyser of Hanover, Heidi (Jamey) Hodges of Fairfield, Ryan (Michelle) Keyser of Geff, L. T. (Sharanda) Keyser of Cisne, Randy (Chrissy) Keyser of Fairfield, Jordan (Jenni) Keyser of Terre Haute, Indiana, Meghan (David) Yandell and Ethan (Chynna) Keyser all of Cisne, Angela Obrecht of Collinsville, J. R. (Erika) Obrecht of Glen Carbon, Megan (John) Millner of Wheaton and Ryan Lowe of Romeoville.  Twenty-one great grandchildren and two on the way, four great-great grandchildren, three step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren also survive.

    Preceding him in death were his parents Samuel and Nell Keyser, his first wife Iva Myers Keyser, one son Rickie Keyser, two brothers Willis and Wallace Keyser, two sisters Wilma Denny and Wanda Hooper, one step daughter-in-law Linda Lee, one step grandson Jonathan Lee, and two sons-in-law William Baker and Dr. Larry Lowe.

    Funeral services will be 3:00 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church near Mt. Erie, Illinois. Visitation will be 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Wednesday at the church.  Burial will be in Brown Cemetery near Mt. Erie, Illinois.

    Memorials may be given to Compassion Pregnancy Center at Fairfield or Fairfield Memorial Hospital Skilled Care Unit and will be accepted at Hosselton-Meridith Funeral Home or at the church.

    Due to COVID-19 and an Illinois mandate, please follow social distancing and face mask recommendations.

    Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.meridithfuneralhome.com.

Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.

13 Condolences
 
  1. Connie Hocking / September 12, 2020 at 2:15 pm

    Sorry for your loss and deepest sympathy, prayers and comfort 🕊🙏🏻

  2. Gerald and Melba Myers Knust / September 12, 2020 at 3:21 pm

    Prayers for the family to be comforted at this difficult time. He is at peace after a long life. He always had a smile and kind words anytime we were together.Love.

  3. marsha stennett / September 12, 2020 at 3:47 pm

    sorry for you loss walter lee was a good neighbor and man. ethel, donna. marsha jean

  4. Stephenia Terry / September 12, 2020 at 6:17 pm

    So few have the opportunity to enjoy our mother or father for so many years. Although I have only met Mr. Keyser a few times i know his daughter Sherry very well. I have been blessed to be in her company and have heard many stories of her childhood. I know it is a tribute to Walter and Iva of the most remarkable woman they raised as well as her brothers she talks about with admiration. Our hearts are saddened by your loss but the comfort to know as a Christian family that you will meet again is the greatest comfort we can ask for. Love to my DEAR friend SHERRY BAKER and her family at this time.

  5. Bob Dow / September 12, 2020 at 7:19 pm

    Please accept my sincere sympathies. Tremendous man, wonderful family!

  6. Mark Martin / September 12, 2020 at 8:37 pm

    I have very fond memories of Walt. First time he introduced me at Crystal’s in Mt. Erie after Sunday night service he said, “This is our new preacher. He’s not very good, but he doesn’t preach too long so I think we’ll keep him.” I think Bernadine wanted to crawl under the picnic table, but I took it as a compliment he thought enough of me to poke a little fun at me. Walter loved Jesus and wanted everyone to know Him as their Savior. I loved his smile, his zeal, and his sense of humor. I am truly blessed to have known him and his family and to be able to serve them at Pleasant Hill for so many years.

  7. Howard Daubs / September 12, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    So sorry for your family’s loss. I will always remember Walt fondly-so many good times with him and the rest of the Keyser family. Howard Daubs

  8. Noel Madding / September 12, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    Larry, Sherry,Sam, &Greg, sorry to hear of this time you are experiencing and my prayers are for you receive strength from Our Lord to get thru this time. I remember when Walt would call our house while we were little and I would answer the phone with , “who this is I say”, Walt didn’t know how to answer for a few seconds, but he would always remind me later in life how to answer the phone.

  9. Melissa Eikenhorst and Jeff Eikenhorst / September 13, 2020 at 4:43 pm

    I am so blessed to have known walt he was a wonderful person I could sit and listen to him all day with his storys he will be missed by so many so sorry to all his family

  10. Dennis &Connie Johnson / September 15, 2020 at 1:38 pm

    We are are so very sorry for your loss .

  11. Ray and Rosalie Elliott / September 15, 2020 at 5:33 pm

    So sorry for your loss.

  12. David & Lynda Shelton / September 15, 2020 at 5:39 pm

    We are so sorry for your loss. My heart is breaking today. Walter and I were good friends for over 20 years and he will be greatly missed. I loved to go fishing with him and listen to his stories. He was a great friend to Lynda and I and we will miss him everyday. Rest in peace my dear friend.

  13. Pamela Murphy / September 16, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    Sam and Tressa so sorry for your loss. Much love and huggs to you both. I’ll keep you and all your family in my prayers.

Leave a Condolence or Memory: