The Rev. Dr. John David "Pat" Keister

The Reverend Dr. John David Keister

March 17, 1927 – November 24, 2021 (age 94)

The Reverend Dr. John David (Pat) Keister died in faith at home on November 24, 2021. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, uncle, and friend.

               The son of E. Earl and Arline Johns Keister, Pat was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 1927, hence the name Pat, by which he is better known. Pat was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at the home of his maternal grandparents. Two weeks later, mother and son returned to their home in his beloved Strasburg, where Pat grew into adulthood. In one of his writings, Pat said, “The unsurpassed beauty of the Shenandoah Valley – the Massanutten Mountain, the Shenandoah River, the small towns, the farmland – has imprinted itself upon my soul.”

               A graduate of Strasburg High School, where he played football, Pat also graduated from Roanoke College, Bachelor of Arts in English, 1950; Lutheran Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Master of Divinity, 1953; Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, SC, Master of Sacred Theology, 1975; Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA, Doctor of Ministry, 1979; and completed post-graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1953-54.

               Pat interrupted his time at Roanoke College to serve in the United States Navy during World War II. Pat entered Roanoke College as an English major with the plan to become the Editor of the Northern Virginia Daily, which was founded by his father. However, during his senior year at Roanoke, it become clear to him that his calling was to become a Lutheran pastor.

               Pat’s first call as a Lutheran pastor was as a Mission Developer and first pastor of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Virginia Beach, 1954-1963. His second call was as the first full-time Chaplain of Roanoke College and Instructor in Religion, Salem, VA, 1963-1979. His third call was as Director of Signal Knob Retreat Center, Strasburg, 1981-1993. Pat delighted in being a pastor and in the diversity of his three calls.

               During his years in active ministry, Pat served at various times as Chairman of the Committee on Church Vocations of the Virginia Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Registrar and Dean of the Summer Session of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary Graduate School at Roanoke College; Superintendent of the Summer Assembly of the Virginia Synod, ELCA and Director of Ecumenical Affairs for the Virginia Synod, ELCA. He also served as Director of Special Events at Roanoke College and used his writing talent to develop grant proposals for the College. Pat co-authored with his wife, Dee, “Food, Fuel and Future,” a study book on lifestyle, published by the Division of Parish Services, Lutheran Church in America.

In 1980, after retiring from his position as Chaplain of Roanoke College, Pat, with his family, moved back to Strasburg to establish Signal Knob Retreat Center at his farm. With his return to Strasburg, Pat, as in his childhood, became active in the life of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Strasburg, serving on the Church Council; serving on committees; teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School; and leading adult mid-week forums. He has had a lifelong love of the St. Paul Lutheran Church family.

               Pat married Hilda Dorothea (Dee) Laven of Media, PA in 1953. He proposed to Dee on a bank of his beloved Shenandoah River. Their marriage has been a devoted and loving partnership. Pat has dearly loved his family. He and Dee have three children, Katharine Arline Scheig (Bill); David William Keister (Jan) and Carolyn Dorothea Baker (Dennis). They have four grandchildren, Justin Albert Johnson, Sarah Marie Trodden (Tom), John David Keister II, and James Ian Baker. They also have two great-granddaughters, Riley Marie Trodden and Josephine Brandau Trodden. Their family is the joy of their lives.

               Pat enjoyed classical music and sports. In his younger years, he especially enjoyed playing baseball with his friends and for the town team. He was an avid reader and collector of books. He loved reading to his children and grandchildren and singing with them. He delighted in reciting poetry from memory. Pat had a wonderful sense of humor. He looked forward to family activities: fishing and tubing on the Shenandoah River, walking in the woods, watching his favorite sport teams, going to the theater, especially musical theater, lively conversation, and spending time on Sanibel Island. He was vice president of Shenandoah Publishing House, Inc. Pat loved God, his family, his Church, and his friends. He lived life cheerfully with gratitude.

               Pat was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Robert Johns Keister, who died at birth, and his brother, William Earl Keister. Pat is survived by Dee, his wife of 68 years, his children, children-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, William G. Laven, nieces, Katharine Laven O’Brien (Jim) and Patricia Laven Kliphon (Scott) and many beloved cousins and dear friends.

               Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 156 West Washington Street, Strasburg, VA, 22657, Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Winchester, VA, 22601, or Roanoke College, 221 College Lane, Salem, VA, 24153.

               A private burial service will be held and a later Memorial and Celebration of Life service will be announced.

               You may sign the family guestbook and submit condolences online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.

               Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Rev. Dr. John David (Pat) Keister.

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