Donald A. O'Keefe

| October 6, 2004 11:00 PM

Donald A. O'Keefe passed away Thursday, Sept. 31, 2004, peacefully asleep at his home.

He was born Aug. 20, 1938 in Deer Lodge, to Remy and Francis (nee Moran) O'Keefe.

Donald worked as a United States postal worker for 20 years until his retirement in March of 1995. He also attended Powell County High School and was president of his school student body and graduated in 1956 and San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, from September of 1961 until August of 1963, when he received an Associate of Arts Degree. He later joined the United States Army and attended officer candidate school in Fort Benning, Ga., in September of 1964; he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in April of 1965. Donald was assigned as platoon leader to the First Air Cavalry Division and deployed to combat duty in Vietnam in August 1965. He was severely wounded in combat in Bong Song in February 1966.

Don was known and loved around the many places he lived and will be sorely missed. Don was a passionate aficionado of reading, travel, and enjoyed engaging in deep and exploratory conversations. His passion for life was second only to his love for his family, which he placed unflappably ahead of his own needs to the very end of his life.

He is survived by his cherished and beloved sons, Remy (Anne) O'Keefe of Seattle, Wash. and Brian (Chris) O'Keefe of Arlington Heights, Ill., and his ex-wife, Patricia Choisseur (Foster) of Walla Walla, Wash.; he was the doting grandfather of Meghan and Madeline O'Keefe; and brother of Bill, Pat, and Dan O'Keefe and Barbara Weiss.

Mr. O'Keefe was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Gloria and brothers Emmett and Ed.

Funeral Mass will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 605 Clark Street, Deer Lodge. Interment will be 2 p.m. at the Helmsville Cemetery in Helmsville.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be given to Arlington Heights Public Library, 500 North Dunton Avenue, Arlington Heights, IL 60004. The Glueckert Funeral Home, LTD of Arlington Heights is in charge of arrangements.