Keith Mckinstry
d. June 27, 2016
Keith Glen McKinstry, 87, of Panorama Park, Iowa, passed away on Monday, June 27, 2016 at Riverview Manor in Pleasant Valley, Iowa.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2016 at McGinnis-Chambers Funeral Home in Bettendorf, Iowa. His family will receive friends one hour before the services on Friday at the funeral home. Final resting place will be in North English, Iowa at a later date. Memorials in honor of Keith made be made to the Nature Conservancy in Iowa for his love of nature, and Genesis VNA and Hospice through Genesis Foundation for providing such gentle care at the end of his life.
Keith was born on July 26, 1928 in North English, Iowa to Glen A. and Bernice O. (Barker) McKinstry. He grew up on the family farm just outside of town and graduated from North English High School with the class of 1946. Deciding that the farm life was not for him, Keith enlisted in the United States Army in July 1948. He was stationed in Sendei, Japan, later transferring into the Reserves. On his return to Iowa, he was shortly called back to duty to Taegu, Korea to serve for another year. For his honorable service, Keith received the Korea Defense Service Medal with three bronze stars.
Returning to Japan in January 1952, he was united in marriage to Fumiko Watanabe in Tokyo, Japan on February 15, 1952.
Keith worked for Tri City Equipment in Davenport as a restaurant equipment serviceman for over 30 years until his retirement in 1993.
A longtime resident of Panorama Park, Keith took his turn of serving on the town council.
Keith loved the outdoors. He enjoyed taking his kayak, which he built from a kit, to the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Princeton, Iowa.
He will be greatly missed by his wife Fumiko, and his two daughters, Kay Strait of Buffalo, Minnesota and Elaine Schilling of Davenport; and three grandchildren, Kelly (Joe) Kenney, Megan (Andrew) Strait, and Ryan Strait.
The family would like to thank the caring staff of Riverview Manor in Pleasant Valley, as well as Genesis Hospice for taking such good care of Keith in his final days. A special thanks to Deb, Rachael, and Britauna at the Fountains Special Memory Unit - you eased our minds by your caring of Keith.