Jason Keim

Mr. Jason E. "Jake" Keim, 83, Crawfordsville, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, February 15, at 3:00 AM. Jason was born on January 3, 1931, in the home of his parents, at Chalmers, Indiana. Early in that year the family moved to New Market. His parents were Russell and Gladys (Strentz) Keim.

Jason attended New Market School, graduating in 1948. He started working for R. R. Donnelleys full time after graduation, having been employed there between his Junior and Senior High School years. Jason began his 44 year career at Donnelleys at the old Match Factory Warehouse on Elmore Street in a branch of the Shipping Department. He later moved to the Bindery in the North Plant as a Jogger on the Folders. In the fall of 1948, Jason accepted an offer to be an Apprentice in the Composing Room (Dept. CA) where he became a Proofreader. Jason was later assigned as an Instructor, Assistant Supervisor, and Supervisor, during which time he was involved in Start-up Operations in the Willard, Ohio, and Elgin, Illinois Divisions. After the Technological Phase-out of the Composing Room, he transferred to the Bindery as a Supervisor in the Departments CFD and CFG. He retired in March of 1992.

On September 11, 1951, Jason was married to Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Hester after being drafted into the U. S. Army in May of 1951. She survives. Also surviving are 4 sons: Stephen (Priscilla), Indianapolis; Brian (Cheryl), Crawfordsville; Jeffrey (Cindy), Dover-Advance area; and Erik (Katrina), South Carolina. Jason and Mary Beth have 10 grandchildren plus many great grandchildren.

During Jason's Army Service in the Medical Corps, his unit was assigned to open what has become the largest overseas American Hospital, serving over 50,000 U. S. Military and their families, as well as over 250,000 personnel receiving specialized treatments.

Jason is a member of the Crawfordsville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other memberships have been the Byron Cox Post #72 of the American Legion, where he served as Second Vice Commander in the mid 1950s and the 6th District Golf Chairman; BPOE #483 Elks; Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Crawfordsville High School Boosters Club President; and the Montgomery County Tea Party. His hobbies and activities included 52 years of golf; remodeling an 1870's house on West Wabash Avenue; and gardening and yard work continuing into his 80's.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 PM Wednesday, February 19th, at the Crawfordsville Ward of the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 125 W. and Oak Hill Road, with Bishop David Morgan presiding. Burial will be in the Indian Creek Hill Cemetery, New Market. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday, from 10:30 AM until 12:30 PM. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion and VFW Posts of Crawfordsville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the : Jessica Keller Fund, c/o Montgomery County Community Foundation, PO Box 334, Crawfordsville, IN 47933, or the Montgomery County Sheriff Department, 600 Memorial Dr., Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Online condolences may be sent to: powerspriebefh.com