Harold A. O’Keeffe, age 79, passed away at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, October 30, 2013, at Heather Hills Rehabilitation and Care Center, Grand Rapids. Born June 22, 1934, in Springfield, Illinois, he was the son of Edward Raymond and Rosemary Dempsey O’Keeffe. On March 30, 1957, he was married to Juanita Robbins, in Detroit, Michigan. She survives. Also surviving are three sons, James (Tracey) O’Keeffe of Medina, Ohio; Kelly (Tina) O’Keeffe of Arlington Heights, Illinois; and Michael O’Keeffe of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Other surviving family members include grandchildren, Michael Kelly, Matthew, Molly, Marie and Michael Arthur O’Keeffe; brothers, Jerome (Marcia) O’Keeffe of Wilmette, Illinois; John (Nancy) O’Keeffe, Grand Rapids, Michigan; sisters, Dorothy Makley and Eileen O’Keeffe, both of Fresno, California; brother-in-law, Michael (Emma) Robbins; and a great number of nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one sister and one granddaughter. Harold graduated from University of Detroit in 1956 with a Business Degree. A veteran of the U.S. Army, he then built his career in Retail Department Store Management for the JC Penney Company over 36 years in various cities throughout the Midwest including Wausau, Wisconsin; Niles and Freeport, Illinois; Iowa City and Waterloo, Iowa; Minnetonka, Minnesota; and St. Louis, Missouri. He was Store Manager of the JC Penney store at Woodland Mall in Grand Rapids from 1980-1995 where he retired. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Home, 3980 Cascade Rd., S.E. Grand Rapids with the Rosary recited at 4:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday at St. Robert of Newminster Parish, 6477 Ada Drive SE, Ada, Michigan. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Spectrum Health, 100 Michigan St. N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
