MOUNT VERNON — Richard “Dick” Keegan, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on August 27, 2023 at the age of 86.
Dick was born in Oneonta, NY on August 26, 1937, to Irma and Edward Keegan. His mother was a nurse and his father was a cardiologist who served as flight surgeon during the Second World War.
Dick spent his formative years in Upstate New York, where he followed the Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio and made the occasional trip to a home game at Ebbets Field. Dick possessed a photographic memory for lineups, batting averages, and all manner of statistics-a faculty that seemed a natural fit for the accounting profession, which Dick would eventually pursue.
Before embarking upon a career, Dick joined the United States Marines, and proudly served his country from 1957-59, both in Okinawa and on Navy troop carriers.
Upon honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Dick moved to New York City, where he met Carole Janota, who had moved there from her home in Northern Illinois to work in the burgeoning air travel industry. Dick and Carole fell in love and were married on August 17, 1963, at St. Ann’s Church in Lansing, IL.
Dick received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana, and began working as an accountant in the Chicago area. He switched allegiance from the Dodgers to the Chicago Cubs and remained an avid fan for the rest of his life. He received a master’s degree in business administration from DePaul University in 1978, and shortly after he and his family relocated to Mt. Vernon.
Dick brought his skills to a variety of businesses in Mt. Vernon, including Krehbiel & Associates, from which he retired in 2014. After his retirement, Dick continued accounting work for the Lifeboat Alliance of Mt. Vernon and for United Cerebral Palsy of Southern Illinois.
As a participant in civic life, Dick served as the president of the Mt. Vernon West Rotary Club from 2014-15 and was twice named Rotarian of the Year. In 2012 he was honored with an outstanding service award as a Senior Saint from the Mt. Vernon Chamber of Commerce.
A longtime parishioner of St. Mary’s Church in Mt. Vernon, Dick served as a eucharistic minister and participated in the Knights of Columbus.
Dick was also an avid athlete. He fell in love with running in the late 1970s and pursued the sport passionately after moving to Mt. Vernon. He logged countless miles and while he ran the occasional marathon, his primary races were the 5K and 10K. Dick participated in more than 1,000 races and stayed active in the sport well into his 80s, switching to shorter distances and racewalking in his later years.
Dick mentored others in running and contributed to the sport’s growth in Southern Illinois. He served for decades as club officer, board member, and race director of the River to River Runners and was honored with their Runner of the Year Award in 2007.
Dick was devoted to his family. He is survived by his wife, Carole; his son David Keegan (and his spouse Patricia Nicolescu); his daughter Kelli Diaz (and her spouse Jorge Diaz); and his grandchildren, Alicia and Jorge Diaz. Dick’s sister Kathline was lost to childhood leukemia in the early 1950s. A lifetime animal lover, Dick always found comfort in the presence of a dog and will be missed by his surviving dog, Katie.
A Visitation will be held Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 9:00 am to 10:00 am at Saint Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Mass will begin at 10:00 am with Father Steve Pautler officiating. A funeral lunch will follow the service. In keeping with Dick’s wishes, attendees are encouraged to celebrate Dick’s casual but passionate love of sport by wearing their favorite running t-shirt or team jersey.
The Keegan family asks friends to kindly consider making a donation in Dick’s honor to the Jefferson County Animal Shelter in Mount Vernon, Illinois.
Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.