Robert Vincent Keiper

10/09/2003

Robert Vincent Keiper, 81, of Middlefield Road died Thursday morning at home. He served on the Planning Board and on the committee for the historic preservation of old buildings. Born on Staten Island, N.Y., on Aug. 2, 1922, son of Jacob and Theresa Wagner Keiper, he moved to Washington as a teenager and was a 1940 graduate of the former Dalton High School. He also completed the GE tool and dye apprenticeship training. A Navy veteran of World War II, he served from 1942 to 1945 in the Pacific theater. Mr. Keiper was employed by GE for 30 years, working in quality control in ordnance systems and the power transformer department. He retired in 1986. Before that, he worked at the former May Engineering Co. He was a member of Becket Federated Church, where he was a trustee. He also coached Little League and served as commander of the former American Legion Post 329. He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the Republican National Committee. He enjoyed cross country skiing, bicycling, woodworking, gardening and building homes for his family. He and his wife, the former Barbara Meiers, would have celebrated their 58th anniversary Oct. 27. . Besides his wife, he leaves three sons, Kenneth Keiper and Paul Keiper, both of Washington, and Roy Keiper of Bolton, Conn.; two daughters, Barbara Viens of Westfield and Diane Duquette of Washington; a sister, Doris Meiers of Becket; 10 grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Robert Vincent Keiper, who died Tuesday, Oct. 9, will be private and at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends tomorrow, Oct. 11, from 1 to 5 at the Keiper home, 256 Middlefield Road, Washington. He was predeceased by a brother, Louis, and by two sisters, Elizabeth Lavery and Theresa Lemborg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Becket Federated Church or the Becket Volunteer Fire Department, both in care of DERY-FOLEY FUNERAL HOME, 890 East Main St., Dalton, MA 01226. He leaves his sons-in-law, Charles Viens and Denis Duquette; his daughters-in-law, Mary Jo Keiper and Nancy Keiper; his grandchildren, Tim and Jeffrey Guay, Eric, Ryan, Andrew, Megan and Kelly Keiper, Denise Stetz, and Danielle and Lindsay Duquette, and his great-granddaughter, Abbey Davis.

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