Keck, John A. Age 83, popular local Dixieland jazz musician, Major U.S.M.C. (Ret.) and Milwaukee attorney for over 50 years, died Thursday, May 13, following a stroke. John was born in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1927 to John W. and Helen (Rock) Keck. In 1945, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and served for over 40 years. He attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison for undergraduate and law school. In 1957, he married Janet (Haman). They celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in February. John put himself through law school, in part, by playing the piano with a band he and his friends created called the Riverboat Rascals. Remnants of that band played together two days before John's stroke - and they cooked! Long fascinated by the origins of jazz, John enlisted the help of some of his favorite local musicians and taught a popular lecture and live performance series at the Wauwatosa Senior Center on the history of jazz. John began his law career in 1957 with Milwaukee attorney Herbert L. Mount. That partnership ended with Mount's death and John became an associate with the law firm Brady, Tyrrell, Cotter and Cutler (now Quarles and Brady). For the last thirty years, he practiced independently. Besides music, the Marine Corps and law, John loved to ski and was a member of the ski patrol at Heiliger Huegel Ski Club for over 30 years. Just about any winter weekend, you'd see John gracefully carving turns in his old-fashioned knickers and woolen knee socks. John was a past member of the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee where he often played the piano for weekly sing alongs. He loved the camaraderie of Kiwanis and enjoyed many volunteer projects including being part of the original board of Milwaukee's River Revitalization Foundation and acting as a Boy Scout leader at the Gaenslen school for children with special needs. He was always proud of being an Eagle Scout himself. John was also a past president of the Wauwatosa Public Library Board. For the last several years, John served in the American Legion Post 449 Honor Guard, providing military honors at veterans' funerals. He was also president of the Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Wisconsin and involved in the Marine Corp Officers Association League. John is the much-loved father of Kevin Keck (Alice Chen) and Nina Coombs (Seth Coombs) and fun-loving "Opie" to grandchildren Brenna and Madison Coombs and Karl and Annika Keck. He is survived by his brother, Jim, his sister Virginia Culp, and her husband Mel, his sister-in-law Judith Collins and brothers-in-law Donald Mills and Herbert Brickson. He was predeceased by his sister Barbara Brickson. Visitation will be Thursday, May 20, at Christ King Church, in Wauwatosa, 2604 N. Swan Blvd. (N. 92nd St.) from 9:30AM until the time of the funeral mass at 11am followed by full military honors in the church. Private inurnment Southeast Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery, Union Grove. In lieu of flowers, memorials in John's name may be sent to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation 3800 Fettler Park Drive, Suite 104 Dumfries, VA 22025.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Christ King Church
2604 Swan Blvd
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 774-5010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
11:00 AM
Christ King Church
2604 Swan Blvd
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 774-5010