Keith Spaniol

Keith A. Spaniol, 81 of Streator passed away Friday afternoon (September 16, 2022) at Heritage Health, Streator.

A visitation will be held Saturday from 9 – 12 at the Winterrowd Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday at 12:30 PM at St. Michael the Archangel Church.  Burial will be in St. Anthony’s Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Dillion and Mitchell Herried, George Spaniol, Peyton, Parker and Palmer Phillis.

Keith was born on March 18, 1941, in Streator to Raymond and Venus (Lawrence) Spaniol.  He married Diane Holohan on November 16, 1963.  She preceded him in death on November 26, 2021.

Surviving are children, Kim (Dean) Herried of Rockford, MI, Keith Raymond (Pam) Spaniol of Sherman, IL and Kristine (Raymond) Phillis of Streator, grandchildren, Dillon, Mitchell, Amanda, Jessica Herried, Bill, George and Kenny Spaniol, Peyton, Klaire, Parker and Palmer Phillis, sisters Lois (Bill) Ross of Ransom, Clara (Stanley) Farley of Kempton and Marsha Cox of Pontiac and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Diane, and brothers Gordon, Dale, Lawrence, and Rollie Spaniol, sister-in-law Lois Spaniol, and brother-in-law Daren Cox.

Keith attended Cornell grade School and graduated from Cornell High School in 1959.  Keith had cherished a close relationship with his Grade and High school classmates. They provided a friendship that would never be broken. Secrets of high school shenanigans, late night joy rides, and good old farm time fun were shared at the class reunions every year.

Keith worked as a welder for Anthony Company to start his career and then Vactor Manufacturing. While working for Vactor, Keith had a 3am Newspaper route for the Streator Times Press where he would turn the presses on for the city and load up his 1946 truck to deliver the route. Also, while working at Vactor, Keith also managed St. Anthony’s Cemetery mowing the grass, laying out the grave plots, setting veteran’s markers, and hand digging the graves. He also hand dug graves for 3 other cemeteries in the area. When Keith retired from Vactor, he began a small engine repair business that he ran out of his garage. Keith was well known for his door to door delivery of lawn mowers and snow blowers for the up coming seasons. Keith felt that he was truly blessed with this God given talent. He was an active parishioner at St. Michael’s Church with attendance at morning mass, helping to clean the church, decorate for Holy days and being a dish washer for the Parish bakers. In the free time that he had, he enjoyed wood working. Many family members have tokens of Keith’s handywork.

Memorials may be made in his name to St. Michael the Archangel Church, Streator High School Welding Program, or a charity of the donor’s choice.