Robert Harold Keiser

Robert H. Keiser Obituary

Bob Keiser, while getting ready for bed on Friday night, December 9, 2022, collapsed onto his bedroom floor. After receiving a clean bill of health from overcoming stomach cancer, his death came as a surprise.

He was born Robert Harold Keiser on April 19, 1931 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Leo Earl Keiser and Florence Eathel Crozier Keiser, the last of four sons. He grew up in Battle Creek, living behind the Battle Creek Sanitarium and later at Beadle Lake. He attended Battle Creek Academy and graduated from Marshall High School. He married Margaret Louise Stearman on August 14, 1949, 18 years old with $49 in his pocket. They treasured each other for 64 years.

He had a great job at Kelloggs. After joining the SDA church in 1956 he quit his job to follow his convictions because he could not get Sabbaths off. Subsequent to the job loss, he had to sell his house, and then worked at a succession of menial jobs, including a stint at a rendering company. He took X-Ray technology training, during which he worked as a hospital orderly. Upon graduation from X-Ray school, the family including three children, Steven Robert, Karen Sue, and one year old Gary LaVern moved to St. Johns, Michigan, where Bob worked as Chief X-Ray technician at St. Johns Memorial Hospital. He started an X-Ray business on the side, which was purchased by Acan X-Ray of Detroit who employed him to open a new operation in Niles, Michigan which resulted in the family’s move to Berrien Springs in 1962. After starting operations in Niles, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, and Chicago, the family moved to Lodi, California in 1971 where he started Acan X-Ray of California. After returning to Berrien Springs two years later, He worked until retirement for Picker International as an X-Ray equipment sales representative. After retiring, he worked for his son at Keiser Excavating, fulfilling a dream of driving a bulldozer and operating heavy equipment.

Bob was a member of the Village Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1962 until his death serving in several positions as head deacon, elder, church board and school board member. He loved his church. He passionately ministered to others and was an initial member of a grief ministry. After bearing with ulcerative colitis for over 30 years, he underwent an ileostomy in 1988. He declared he wanted to dedicate his life to ministry after surviving his surgery. He went from winning salesman of the year awards, to rejoicing in the rewards of winning souls.

Most importantly, he served in the honorable positions of son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend, and the adopted “father” of many fatherless sons and daughters.

He was preceded in death by his father in 1974, his mother in 1986, his three brothers, and his wife in 2013. He is survived by his children, ten grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Family and friends will celebrate his life at 4:00 PM on Saturday, December 17 at the Village SDA Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in Bob’s name to the Village SDA School or the Village SDA Church Mission Project.

Messages and memories may be shared online at www.allredfuneralhome.com.