Robert Keith Obituary
Robert Keith
Born: January 2, 1950 in Elgin, IL
Died: November 4, 2024 in Avon, IN
Robert "Bob" Keith of Avon, IN (previously of Cary, IL) passed away peacefully on November 4, 2024 at the age of 74.
Bob was born on January 2, 1950 to parents Eleanor and Kenneth Keith of Crystal Lake, IL. After graduating Crystal Lake Community High School in 1968, Bob went on to work for his father at Cary Country Club. He became a member of the Professional Golf Association in 1976 and in 1982 he took over for his father as Cary's Golf Professional, a position that he held for the next 28 years. Bob married Susie Rouse of Battle Creek, MI in 1991 and would go on to have two children.
In his free time from the golf course, some of Bob's many hobbies included ice fishing with his dad and Uncle Warren, as well as attending countless Bulls, Blackhawks and White Sox games with friends and family. He also enjoyed trips to Hawaii with our great family friends, the Swensons and Andersons, as well as many winters in Florida.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents Eleanor and Kenneth, infant son John Robert, and many beloved pets. He is survived by his wife Susie, son K.J. and brother Bill. In lieu of a traditional funeral, a memorial dinner/celebration of life will be held in the spring in the Cary/Crystal Lake area. Details will follow.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Northwest Herald on Nov. 27, 2024.
Memories and Condolenceshttps://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nwherald/name/robert-keith-obituary?id=56865901
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Ron Wegner
God brought Bobby home!A tremendous individual with a very generous heart, filled with belief. Thankfully, the pain has ended... RIP Bobby
Steve Eike
Beautiful eulogy, Ron! God blesses Bob in person, now.Thanks to Coach Swenson for helping Bob during his earthly adventures!Mike VanRensselaer
Bob started out as the toughest kid on Esther Street. He was bigger than the rest of us, and he stayed that way through junior high, where if you found yourself up against him in the lane on a basketball court you found out just how tough “Tiny” was. He played golf in high school, managed the basketball team, and wore out his classmates at football games when he started up his “Go Go You Tigers (Hey Hey)” chant from the cheer block, and kept it going longer than anybody should have been able to, red-faced and ignoring the hoarseness tearing into his voice.
Bob was generous and loyal to those close to him. He was a charter member of what the girls called “The Milk and Cookies Set” and what we called “The Millionaires’ Club”. During reunion weekends he insisted on paying for his friends’ rounds of golf at the Cary Country Club, where he became the Pro. He used to drive us into Chicago in his Lincoln Continental to see the Blackhawks, Bulls, and Blue Demons. The guys who parked his car knew him and he treated them well.
I didn’t go along on his trips to see the White Sox because, well, I was a Cubs fan. This difference of opinion found its way into countless conversations over the years. When we got older I used to call him now and then when the Cubs were playing the Sox on TV, and we’d watch a few innings together. In his last email to me he reminded me about how a kid from Woodstock knocked out his front tooth in a basketball game in 7th grade. He said he became good friends with him later, but the guy never mentioned the tooth. So neither did Bob.
In the end, Bob needed all the toughness of his youth to battle crippling illness and pain. To no one’s surprise, he carried on the fight longer than anybody should have been able to.
Dave Kling
Mike Van said it so well. I remember Bob as "Tiny" with a big heart.