Patricia Jane (Reppert) Keller, age 81, a committed follower of Jesus Christ all her life, died on April 9, 2021. She was born November 13, 1939, to Theo G. and Twila (Shoup) Reppert in Morenci, MI. Her father died in a car accident when she was seven years old; her mother then married Herbert Marks Knoblauch. The family were active members of the Morenci United Methodist Church.
Pat (Patty) graduated from Morenci High School in 1957. She attended Albion College in Michigan. Pat married the Rev. Ron L Keller on June 22, 1958. She then attended Heidelberg College in Ohio and studied music and elementary education. She taught private piano lessons to many children through the years and gave her oldest son his start as a professional jazz musician.
Later in life, Pat graduated from the Grand Rapids Medical Education School. She worked as a Medical Assistant in several doctors’ offices for twenty years and dearly loved working with patients. She also worked as an assistant to the director of the Southwest Michigan Music Center in Battle Creek for three years.
Pat enjoyed quilting, playing the piano, reading, playing card and board games, and watching her children’s and grandchildren’s musical concerts and ball games. She remembered great camping trips all over North America in their motor home with family and friends. Pat was fun-loving and quick to smile. She was a sweet, generous, compassionate, caring person with an amazingly positive attitude, which she inherited from her mother and her grandmother. She was admired and respected by everyone who knew her; she was especially adored by her family and many friends.
Pat and Ron served in the United Methodist ministry in Battle Creek, Republic (Ohio), Union City, Rockford, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, and Flint. After retiring, they lived eight years in Florida. Pat was a member of the Genesis class and United Methodist Women of Court Street United Methodist Church in Flint.
As her greatest legacy, Patricia leaves four children and seven grandchildren: Paul (Michelle) and children Leah and Nathaniel of Saline; Laurel of Ypsilanti; Brad (Lauren) of Kalamazoo and children Erin and Benjamin of Ann Arbor; and Brent (Adrienne) and children Noah, Jonah, and Julia of Goodrich.
Pat is survived by her children, grandchildren, and her beloved cousins, Suzanne Stevens of Dexter, and Joan (Allen) Schuetz of Towson, MD, sister-in-law Kathie Knoblauch of Clayton, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepfather, her husband Ron, her sister Marlene Baker, and brothers Darrell and Mark Knoblauch.
Visitation will be held at Sharp Funeral Home, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek, MI 48473 on Tuesday, April 20 from 3 till 8 PM. Please, wear a mask and following social distancing guidelines. The funeral will be held on Wednesday, April 21 at 11 AM. The funeral will be live-streamed through the Sharp Funeral Home website and all are welcome to attend virtually. Private interment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Morenci, MI at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Patricia’s honor to Court Street United Methodist Church of Flint, MI and/or Crossover Downtown Outreach Ministry of Flint, MI.
Last Updated on December 20, 2023