James Keene

An accomplished pianist and a successful businessman, James Keene brought so much to the world around him. Although he was truly dedicated to his work and his love for music, Jims heart always belonged first and foremost to his beloved wife and precious family. With his loving and compassionate ways, Jim tenderly cared for his wife during her time of need over a period of several years. His love for music spilled over into his collection of ragtime sheet music, but he leaves behind so much more than these thousands of pieces in time. Jim also orchestrated a beautifully composed symphony of memories that will forever remain in the hearts of those he leaves behind. If one could travel back to the year 1915, there would be a vast array of new sights and sounds. Men wore striped trousers and a morning coat while womens hemlines inched upward to show the ankle. The 1910s were called the Ballroom Decade and many restaurants came equipped with dance floors. It was also in the year 1915 that in Portland, Indiana, R. Emir and Pearl (McCurdy) Keene were celebrating the birth of their son, James William, on March 3rd. Jim spent his formative years in Portland and was later joined in his family by younger sister Margaret. His father supported their family as the owner of a lumber yard while Jims mother was a homemaker. Jim enjoyed a typical childhood during this generation and often helped his father in the lumber yard. It was as a young boy that Jim began taking piano lessons and discovered that playing ragtime music was by far his favorite. After graduating from high school Jim attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana where he was an excellent student. In fact, one of his economics professors later said that Jim was one of the brightest students he ever taught. Jims years at Earlham would prove to bring him much more than an education as it was there that he met the young woman with whom he would share a love story that spanned 67 years. Her name was Joan Hoerner and when the young Jim laid eyes on her, she was certainly the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Inspired to be an economics professor himself, Jim enrolled at the University of Chicago after two years at Earlham. Life had other plans, however, as it was also during that time that Jims father lost his lumber yard to a fire causing him to move to Muskegon, Michigan, where his brother purchased another lumber yard. Once there, Jims father requested that Jim help him in that business and so after just a year at the university, he left school to help his father. Jim always had a strong sense of responsibility for both his family and work. Also of great significance was Jims relationship with his sweetheart that had blossomed into true love. Jim and Joan were married on October 8, 1938, in her hometown of Lewisburg, Ohio. The couple soon settled together in Muskegon. Their life together was soon interrupted with the outbreak of WWII which left business at the lumber yard very slow. Jim then enlisted in the Army and proudly served as a quartermaster moving supplies. His time of service brought him to England and France during which time Joan moved to Iowa to live with her family. The couple was blessed with their daughter Rebecca in 1943, although she would be nearly two years old before Jim ever got the chance to see her. Once discharged, Jim and his young family returned to Muskegon where their family grew to include daughter Jean in 1947, son Jerry in 1950, daughter Jody in 1953, and daughter Janet in 1955. They settled in the North Muskegon area and became active within their community and in the lives of their children as well. Jim continued to work at the lumber yard and together he and his father turned their business into what is thought to be the first cash and carry lumber yard in the country. He loved his job and often worked tirelessly for seven days a week as Sundays would usually find him unloading the boxcars of wood. Later in life Jims son Jerry joined him in the business, and Jim himself never really retired, still doing the books well into his eighties. When he was looking for some ways to unwind, Jim was a member of the Muskegon Country Club and loved playing with his good group of friends. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge, the VFW, and at First Congregational Church. Jim continued to play the piano and although he usually played for his own enjoyment, he would occasionally perform in public including at the Scott Joplin Ragtime Music Festival on one occasion. He also became a collector of ragtime sheet music, often stopping with Joan at antique shops where he would hunt through the sheet music. Later in life he and Joan also enjoyed traveling to visit some of their children and other relatives across the country. During her later years, Joan became ill and Jim took great care of her throughout the last several years of her life. He was also blessed that his daughter Jean moved in to help with Joans care too. Jim was deeply saddened with Joans death in 2004 although his daughter remained in his home which allowed him to stay in their North Muskegon home throughout his last years as well. Eventually the years started to take a toll on Jims health and he developed serious lung issues from which he was unable to recover. Jim Keene was an extraordinary man who brought harmony to the everyday melodies of life through his musical talents, his zest for life, and his kind heart. He proudly served his country during a time of need, and worked hard to service his community through his thriving business that was very much a labor of love in many ways. Jim leaves behind a legacy of love and faith that will live on in the lives of his beloved family. He will be dearly missed. James W. Keene died peacefully on Saturday, September 26, 2009. Jims family includes his son, Jerry (Vivian) Keene of North Muskegon; daughters, Rebecca Keene of CA, Jean Keene of Muskegon, Jody (Randy) Northuis of Holland, Janet Keene of Muskegon; 7 grandchildren, Emily Keene, Jamie Keene, Eric Northuis, Scott (Mikki) Northuis, Erin (Josh) Reinert, Brent Lange, Christopher (Katharine) Wager; 3 great grandchildren, Abbi & Katie Northuis, Mallory Reinert. He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Joan in 2004; an infant son, Clay; sister, Margaret. A private ceremony will be held. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial contribution to the First Congregational Church Music Fund.