John Henry Keefer, 96, a former long-time resident of Hays, Kansas, passed away on July 16, 2026 in Woodridge. Virginia. John was born on April 8, 1930, in Lykens, Pennsylvania to Charles W. Keefer, Sr. and Josephine (Holwig) Keefer. During his teenage years, his parents moved around Pennsylvania to accommodate his Father’s promotions within the Pennsylvania Railroad. John graduated from Peabody High School in Pittsburgh, PA in 1949 and often told the story that during graduation, the car was running in the parking lot ready to take the family to their next move to Chicago, Illinois.
In the early 1950’s, John enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country first in Korea as part of the 802 Engineering Aviation Battalion in Suwon. After his tour in Korea, he completed his service to our country while stationed at Fort Leavenworth as a Military Police officer and Prison Guard beginning his lifetime interest in law enforcement which included serving as a reserve police officer in several communities.
While stationed at Ft. Leavenworth, he met his future life companion Henrietta Peuker in Atchison, Kansas. After a lengthy and sometimes long-distance courtship, they were engaged and married at Christ Lutheran Church in rural Wathena, Kansas on September 15, 1957. From this union came three children, William, Michael and Laura Ann. Sadly, Henrietta succumbed to cancer a few months before what would have been their 50th wedding anniversary.
After John and Henrietta were married, they resided in the Chicago area where John graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Sociology. Shortly thereafter, he began a long career in the insurance industry including time as an insurance adjuster, claims manager and insurance sales. In 1967, John was transferred to Hays as the manager of the claims office for the Hartford Insurance Company.
His interests were varied and often reflected his experiences over the years. He enjoyed history and was a proficient reader of books related to military history, never passing up an opportunity to visit a museum or a civil war battlefield. This interest led him to become a longtime volunteer/tour guide at the Fort Hays Historic Museum. Another passion was the Masonic Lodge where he was a 60-year member and was a Past Master of Hays Lodge 195. If you knew John, you would know about his great love for trains. He was an avid model railroader and train buff taking many trips to railroad venues as well as spending countless hours in the basement “fine-tuning” his railroad. He was one of the co-founders of the Western Kansas Model Railroad Club located in the Ellis Railroad Museum.
John was a Christian, strong in his faith and a long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hays. In 2016, John was honored as a veteran to be selected to be part of a Kansas Honor Flight to Washington D.C.
John was a man of good character holding integrity, morals and ethics as standards to live your life by and preaching to his family to always do the right thing. His coffee hangout was at the Mall, Thursday lunch was with his friends at Thirsty’s and Sunday after church was breakfast at IHOP with Bill and Warren! John spent the last 6 years in Virginia living with his daughter Laura Ann and her family and most recently at a care facility where he passed away.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years Henrietta, his parents and siblings Charles W. (Joan) Keefer, Jr. and Katherine (John) Schaeffer as well as a niece and nephew.
John is survived by his sons Bill (Paula) of Brookfield, WI; Mike (Maria) of Rose Hill, KS; and daughter Laura Ann (Alan) Lawless of Manassas, VA. Grandchildren Charles Keefer, Elizabeth (Derek) Neupauer, Lauren Keefer, Kelsey Keefer, Andie Keefer, Breeze Lawless, Aerial Lawless, and Bolton Lawless. Great Grandchildren Kaia, Ezra and Eliah Neupauer and Julian Day, brother-in-law Elmer Peuker and a number of nieces and nephews.
John’s ashes will be interred next to Henrietta with a graveside service at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at the Rosedale Cemetery in rural Wathena, KS. The Harman and Rohde Funeral Home, Wathena, KS is in charge of arrangements.