Kiwanis remember Glenn Keeran

Glenn Keeran left a big mark in Sisters in the nine years he lived here - especially in the Kiwanis Club of Sisters where he served as president and operated the club's food bank.

Keeran died on January 8 from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. He had moved from Sisters to San Diego, near his daughters. Sisters Kiwanis gathered shortly after hearing the news to share remembrances of a man they universally considered one of their best.

"He was just such a doer," said Kiwanis President Jerry Taylor. "He fell in love with the food bank. He ran it for years. Then, he dove into every project we did."

Under Keeran's leadership, the food bank grew exponentially, becoming a vital service for those in need in the community.

While his tireless service work is honored, the Kiwanis also remembered a friendly, positive man.

"I miss his hugs," said Sue Edgerton. "He gave lots of hugs!"

Naomi Rowe recalled that Keeran "was the first one here for meetings every Thursday and would help me make coffee and get the room ready. He said he didn't want to miss shaking anyone's hand."

Keeran seemed to be willing to volunteer for any kind of project. He chaired the Kiwanis Buckaroo Breakfast at Sisters Rodeo and was always counted on to round up volunteers for Kiwanis endeavors.

"He was just an all around good guy who would do anything for anybody," Taylor said.

Past-President Tay Robertson said that Keeran was one of those people whose energy and commitment make them "shining stars" in their community.

"Glenn was a one-in-a-million kind of guy," Robertson said. "He was someone really special to the greater Sisters communty."

Keeran retired to Sisters from San Diego, where he served in public works. While Keeran was active in service clubs in the metropolis, Taylor thinks he relished the chance to serve in a small town where a little help goes a long way and the impact on lives is evident.

"I think he just fell in love with a small, rural area," Taylor said.

Taylor noted that Keeran cared particularly about cultivating the best qualities in Sisters youth. Keeran's estate left a substantial sum to create a Kiwanis Club Glenn Keeran Scholarship Foundation Endowment for scholarships for Sisters students.

"Every year when we dispense scholarship funds, Glenn will look down and smile with approval," Taylor said. "We will hold him in our hearts forever."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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