Obituary for Keith G. Olive Jr.
Keith G. Olive, Jr., 87, of Niagara, WI, passed away at home on February 18, 2024.
Keith was born on August 7, 1936, in Sequim, WA to Dessie (nee Cooper) and Keith Olive, Sr. In his late teens, he gave his heart and life to Christ. He fell in love with Ruth Thomas much to her father’s dismay, as she was his youngest daughter, and they married shortly thereafter while Keith was home on leave after Naval basic training. Keith then was assigned to San Diego Naval Base CA for his remaining service time. Upon discharge, he and Ruth moved to Tipler, WI, where they purchased a dairy farm while raising their three children: Brenda, Jim, and John. When suppliers would no longer pick-up milk due to the remote location, the family sold the farm and relocated closer to town (Florence, WI).
Keith and Ruth were married for 36 wonderful years before her untimely death. As a parent, Keith experienced unfathomable heartbreak when his daughter, Brenda, passed away in a tragic car accident in 1989.
After farming, Keith started a logging company with his oldest son, Jim, called J&K Forest Products of Florence, WI. He loved working with his son and working in the woods. One day, a Florence County Board member asked if he could take a picture of Keith in action as he was cutting down a tree. Many years later while visiting the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center in Florence, he was very surprised to find a life-sized cut-out of himself from the photo that was taken that day.
Keith and Lois met on a blind date and married shortly thereafter. Together, they encouraged each other to serve the Lord and share the gospel at home and abroad. This included multiple trips to Ukraine, Sudan, Armenia, Romania, and Mexico, as well as teaching Chinese and Indonesian immigrants English using the Bible.
Keith was a devoted family man, who loved playing cards and dominoes with his family, as well as golfing with his sons and grandsons. He loved to tell stories, assemble puzzles, fish in his dad’s old rowboat and share the gospel with anyone who would listen. He also was a devoted “Green Bay Packer” fan ~ a true cheese head that was often spotted proudly wearing his Packer memorabilia. We will greatly miss his bold faith and fun-loving personality!
Keith was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth, daughter, Brenda, parents Keith Sr., and Dessie.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Olive; brother, Clyde (Diane); and sister, Betty Karle; children Jim (Linda), and John (Kryslyn) as well as two stepchildren, Laura (Matt Rose) and Julie (Reid Miller). Keith and Lois have 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Keith’s life will be held on February 24, with visitation from 12:00 p.m. until 1 p.m. at Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, MI. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Pastor Ron Westman officiating. Burial will be in the spring at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Due to a family allergy, the family requests that no flowers be sent.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Keith’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Keith’s legacy of life.
Keith was born on August 7, 1936, in Sequim, WA to Dessie (nee Cooper) and Keith Olive, Sr. In his late teens, he gave his heart and life to Christ. He fell in love with Ruth Thomas much to her father’s dismay, as she was his youngest daughter, and they married shortly thereafter while Keith was home on leave after Naval basic training. Keith then was assigned to San Diego Naval Base CA for his remaining service time. Upon discharge, he and Ruth moved to Tipler, WI, where they purchased a dairy farm while raising their three children: Brenda, Jim, and John. When suppliers would no longer pick-up milk due to the remote location, the family sold the farm and relocated closer to town (Florence, WI).
Keith and Ruth were married for 36 wonderful years before her untimely death. As a parent, Keith experienced unfathomable heartbreak when his daughter, Brenda, passed away in a tragic car accident in 1989.
After farming, Keith started a logging company with his oldest son, Jim, called J&K Forest Products of Florence, WI. He loved working with his son and working in the woods. One day, a Florence County Board member asked if he could take a picture of Keith in action as he was cutting down a tree. Many years later while visiting the Wild Rivers Interpretive Center in Florence, he was very surprised to find a life-sized cut-out of himself from the photo that was taken that day.
Keith and Lois met on a blind date and married shortly thereafter. Together, they encouraged each other to serve the Lord and share the gospel at home and abroad. This included multiple trips to Ukraine, Sudan, Armenia, Romania, and Mexico, as well as teaching Chinese and Indonesian immigrants English using the Bible.
Keith was a devoted family man, who loved playing cards and dominoes with his family, as well as golfing with his sons and grandsons. He loved to tell stories, assemble puzzles, fish in his dad’s old rowboat and share the gospel with anyone who would listen. He also was a devoted “Green Bay Packer” fan ~ a true cheese head that was often spotted proudly wearing his Packer memorabilia. We will greatly miss his bold faith and fun-loving personality!
Keith was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth, daughter, Brenda, parents Keith Sr., and Dessie.
He is survived by his wife, Lois Olive; brother, Clyde (Diane); and sister, Betty Karle; children Jim (Linda), and John (Kryslyn) as well as two stepchildren, Laura (Matt Rose) and Julie (Reid Miller). Keith and Lois have 13 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
A celebration of Keith’s life will be held on February 24, with visitation from 12:00 p.m. until 1 p.m. at Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, MI. Funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Pastor Ron Westman officiating. Burial will be in the spring at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Due to a family allergy, the family requests that no flowers be sent.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Keith’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Keith’s legacy of life.