Dennis Keeney

VAN BUREN, Mo. — Dennis Lee Keeney, 75, son of the late Floyd and Anna (Clark) Keeney, was born Jan. 18, 1945 in Van Buren, Missouri. He departed this life Dec. 14, 2020 at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

On June 4, 1966, he was united in marriage to Katheryn Johnson. They had been married for 41 years until her passing in 2007.

Dennis was the youngest of his eight siblings. He proudly served his country in the United States Army from September of 1963 to September of 1969. He worked at the McSpadden Funeral Home in the early 60s. He went to radio broadcasting school in Nashville, Tennessee and then began his career as a radio broadcaster at KPWB in Piedmont.

Dennis and Katheryn moved to Poplar Bluff in the early 70s where he spent several years working for radio stations there: first, KWOC, then KLID, KKLR, and KJEZ. He had the opportunity to become a sales representative for a local block and brick company called Stovall Block & Brick in Poplar Bluff, then later Kasten Masonry Sales in Jackson, Missouri. He kept the radio station jobs as a second job that was more of a hobby for him - he had his own hunting and fishing broadcast, “Outdoors with Dennis Keeney!”  He became very closely involved with Missouri Department of Conservation and devoted a great deal of time to educating others on conservation efforts through his radio show.  After his retirement, he went back to the radio station where he first DJ’d at KPWB to continue his outdoors show.

Dennis was a huge fan of the Grand Ole Opry and St. Louis Cardinals baseball. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a fishing guide on area lakes. He loved nothing more than introducing people to the joy of fishing. He believed getting kids in the outdoors was key to keeping them on the right path and providing them with healthy outlets. He conceived the idea of what he called “Take a kid fishing” tournaments and saw his idea come to fruition - he organized these and got sponsors and put them on annually at Lake Wappapello. He also enjoyed bowling. Dennis and Kay bowled in a league for several years and have a room of trophies from tournaments. He fished numerous fishing tournaments throughout the state and often did quite well (again adding to his trophy collection). He also spent summers coaching a women’s softball team in which Kay played and they called him ‘Coach ‘atta boy, girl’, as this was his common saying. Additionally, he played in a men’s fast pitch league as a pitcher.  

He loved spending time with his family and adored his grandchildren. He never met a stranger and was known by all as a fun-loving person who always welcomed people to his home for some of his and Kay’s amazing cooking, especially their fish fries.  

He is survived by his companion of the past 12 years, Brenda Roberts; his son, Mike Keeney and wife, Missy, of Fremont, Missouri; his daughter, Donna Keeney and husband, Michael, Byrd of Nashville; three siblings, Helen Austin of Van Buren, Bud Keeney and Sandy of Blue Grass, Iowa; and Verna Heinz of Poplar Bluff, Missouri; five grandchildren, Logan Keeney, Madelyn Keeney, Holden Keeney, Noah Keeney and Gracie Byrd; one great-grandchild, Grayce Keeney; numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends who mourn his passing.

In addition to his parents and his wife, Dennis was preceded in death by five siblings, Audrey Jean Morris, Laverda Ruth Keeney, Jim Keeney, Meda Keeney and Betty Jo Johnson.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020 in the McSpadden Funeral Home in Van Buren, Missouri. Rev. Londa Richardson will be officiating.

In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: In honor of Dennis Keeney

‘KAST’ via

Webb Outdoors

227 Prairie Hollow Rd.

Ozark, MO 65721

Links for donations: HYPERLINK “https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/my/profile” \t “_blank” paypal.me/WebbOutdoors (Dennis Keeney & KAST in the description.) or HYPERLINK “https://checkout.square.site/merchant/2WA7GPMBQ5306/checkout/JD2R2LWXPCZZKHMNAWCAEBSD” \t “_blank” https://checkout.square.site/merchant/2WA7GPMBQ5306/checkout/JD2R2LWXPCZZKHMNAWCAEBSD

Online condolences: HYPERLINK “http://www.mcspaddenfh.com/” www.mcspaddenfh.com

The family is requesting anyone who attends the service to wear a face mask and observe social distancing.