Keith John Spence

Keith John Spence, 61, left the Earth to be with Jesus on May 6, 2025, at 2:55am at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. He was born on December 3, 1963, in Horton, Kansas. When he was 3, his family moved to Dodge City, Kansas where he attended Dodge City schools and graduated in 1982. He married his wife, Marjorie Elaine Kessen on December 21, 1985, as well as adopted his daughter Krystal Dawn. They had 2 more daughters, Kelly Renee and Karen Elaine.

He worked at the Dodge City Salvage Yard and Dodge City Stanion Wholesale Electric before moving to Eudora, Kansas to continue work at Stanion in Lawrence. He continued his work there for 32 years except for 1 year of trying his hand at being a Mac Tools Salesman and then returning to Stanion. He volunteered as a Eudora City Firefighter for 20 years and was a Lieutenant in the later years that he served his community. He was well loved by all of his colleagues in all of his jobs and he loved them as well.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends and visiting with his family and going to all of their sporting events. He is said to have always had a love for wheels which is definitely why he grew up loving NASCAR and Sprint Car Racing all the way up to having plans of going to the Chili Bowl for the rest of his life with his wife. He loved going on motorcycle rides with Marj and friends, as well as solo rides on his own- he called them “joy rides.”

Keith led his family to church almost every Sunday which in turn led them to Jesus Christ. He and Marj have been members of Lawrence Heights Christian Church for over 30 years. Keith found joy in the activities he took part in at church which included attending men’s Bible Study on Monday nights and belonging to a wonderful small group with Marj and four other couples that met on a regular basis. He loved being a member of LHCC’s Club 55, he looked forward to traveling to Branson with them every year. Keith was also a trustee of the church.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, John Joseph and Martha (Reichart) Spence; his brother, David Lee; brother, Richard Ray; and sister, Karen Kay.

He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 40 years and all three precious daughters and their husbands Jeremy Reimer, Patrick Reuter, and Vincent Picchiello, as well as the lights of his life- all five grandchildren: Kanda, Kolbie, Blayne, Martha and Spence.

He is also survived by his loving sisters and brothers-in-law; Laura and Larry Paulsen, Barbara and Dave Brown, JoAda and Steve Council, and Sue Ann and David Winkler.

Funeral and visitation are on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Lawrence Heights Christian Church starting with the visitation at 9am followed by the funeral service at 11am. A burial will take place at Valley Falls Cemetery in Valley Falls, Kansas at 2:30pm.

The family suggests memorials in Keith’s name to the Lawrence Heights Christian Church Building Fund and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary 120 W. 13th St. Lawrence, KS 66044. For more information or to post a condolence go to warrenmcelwain.com