Keith Leland Heal

Keith L. Heal, 88, of Fresno, California, was born on December 22, 1930 in Rhinelander, Wisconsin to Garold and Albia (Miner) Heal and passed away on December 7, 2019. He was raised in Eagle River until he joined the Army after high school as a musician, and played his trombone in various places, including Italy. He was discharged in California after four years of honorable service and remained in California for the rest of his life. Keith received his bachelor's degree from California Baptist Theological Seminary, and then he worked for the California State Hospital system as a Psychiatric Technician until his retirement. He supplemented his income throughout his life working as a Licensed Vocational Nurse for several skilled nursing facilities.

In 1956, he married Martha Fox and together they had a son, Jon. After his divorce from Martha, he raised Jon alone until he married Carla Bastian in 1967. Keith and Carla later moved to Atascadero and then to Porterville where they had a daughter, Heather. In 2003 they began the process of selling their house and moving to Fresno, where they have been very active in the activities of the senior village where they live.

Keith became a Christian in his youth and spent many years serving the Lord through leading music in church. He also ministered to seniors through practical care and worship services.

Keith also had a great interest in radio and Christian broadcasting in particular, and possessed sophisticated shortwave and FM radio receivers to listen to broadcasts from all over the world. Keith was an early adopter of health food. Long before they were in vogue, he fed his son whole wheat bread and even cultured his own yogurt. He and Carla maintained a vegetable garden wherever they lived. He enjoyed traveling with Carla and counted among their destinations Denali National Park in Alaska, New Zealand, Israel, Ecuador, and witnessing a total Solar eclipse in Curaçao. He remained active throughout his life, riding his bicycle only minutes before his death. He enjoyed the outdoors and the beauty of God's creation.

He is survived by his wife, Carla (Bastian) Heal; a son, Jon (Karen) Heal of Springfield, Virginia and a daughter, Heather (Jim) Kinney of San Diego, California; grandchildren Daniel and Thomas Heal of Springfield, Virginia and Matthew and Rosette Kinney of San Diego, California; and ten nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Laird Heal, and his sister Geraldine Stewart.

Visitation will be December 17th 2019 from 4-8 p.m. at the Beverage Family Funeral home sandwich, IL. Funeral Service will be held December 18th at 10 a.m. at the funeral home.

Burial is in Oak Mound Cemetery in Somonauk, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christian Aid Mission, PO Box 9037, Charlottesville, VA 22906 or to Open Doors, PO Box 27001, Santa Ana, CA 92799.

www.beveragefamilyfh.com.