Robert "Bj" Keeney

Robert "BJ" Keeney Jr., 56, of Marseilles, IL, died, Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Morris Hospital. Funeral Services will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at Stavanger Lutheran Church with Rev. Philip Peterson officiating. Burial will be at Stavanger Cemetery. Visitation will be 4:00 - 8:00 Tuesday, February 8 at Ottawa Funeral Home and one hour prior to services at Stavanger Lutheran Church. BJ was born on July 20, 1954 in Norfolk, Virginia to Robert J. and Mardel J. (Bennett) Keeney Sr. He was a graduate of Romeoville High School and married Peggy Ostby June 26, 1976 at Stavanger Lutheran Church. He owned and operated Illinois Office Supply, in Ottawa, Illinois, with his wife Peggy. He was a member of the Stavanger Lutheran Church, Boy Scouts, served on the school board at Milton Pope Grade School for 24 years, and a member of the Stavanger Lutheran Church, he was once a batboy for the Minnesota Twins and held annual passes at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. BJ loved to be outside; planting, mowing, trimming bushes and making his kids move lava rocks. He always had an idea, or a project, and he was never doing it alone. His motivation was infectious and he treated everyone in his life as though they were family. During his son's senior year, he built the scenery for Seneca High School's production of "Hello, Dolly!" For his oldest daughter's wedding, he built Jenny and Allen a castle backdrop made of cardboard. This past Christmas was spent with his family at Walt Disney Worldagain. The entire family loved to be at Disney, and loved to be there together. BJ raised three Cast Members, Matt (Creative Entertainment), Jenny (Jungle Cruise Skipper) and his son-in-law, Allen (Main Street U.S.A.). Jacey is planning to work at Walt Disney World later this year. He is survived by his wife; one son, Matt, a cast member at Walt Disney World in Florida; two daughters, Jennifer (Allen) Matuszewski, a math teacher at Channahon Junior High School, and Jacey Keeney, a student at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois; nine brothers and sisters, Patti (Mark) Gualandri of Marseilles, Margie (Ed) Veselsky of Springfield, Danette (Dennis) Duffy and Kathy (Ken) Williams, both of La Salle, Craig (Gina) and Billy (Tina) Keeney both of Utica, Barb (Jon) Bouxsein of Hennepin, Ron (Megan) Keeney of Peru, and Rich (Valerie) Keeney of Cherry; and his mother-in-law, Loretta "Rosie" Ostby of Marseilles. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Karen Keeney and Betty Telinski; and his father-in-law, Marion Ostby. Pallbearers will be brothers Craig, Rich and Ron, nephews Greg and Jeff Armstrong, and family friend Jeff Sheppard. Memorials may be directed to the family for a memorial in his name.

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