John Keating, 72
John Keating, 72, passed away March 18, 2007. With the expertise and compassion of Hospice and Dr. Leedy, he was able to die in his home with his wife and daughter at his side. He fought a valiant battle against mesothelioma (asbestos cancer).
Born in coastal Seaton Carew, England, on Oct. 10, 1934, John became the quintessential American and an example of what makes the United States a special place. He survived German bombings during his childhood in World War II, eventually made his way to the Pacific Northwest, and graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor of science degree in metallurgical engineering.
He then began a career that took him to every corner of the globe and experiences that many can only imagine. Sixteen years of project management for Lockheed Shipbuilding in Seattle, Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, where he met his wife, Marge, and a stint with Santa Fe Engineering Services. Then 22 years as a private consultant and contractor installing turbine/compression packages and other facilities for oil, natural gas, electric power generation services in Belgium, Africa, California, Iran, Dubai, Indonesia, Gulf of Mexico, North Slope of Alaska, Canada, Seattle, Korea, Japan, Ohio, Massachusetts, Texas, Arizona, Michigan, Washington, and finally his beloved Idaho.
John was an engineer, businessman, manager, private pilot, hunter, marksman, and lived the American dream to the fullest. Uncommonly capable with his hands, he remodeled his Sandpoint home and selectively logged the property over the years with Marge, loved to RV to national parks, and enjoyed being a grandparent.
John is survived by his wife, Marge; daughter, Susie, of Seattle, and her husband, Don; and grandsons, Brenton and Trevor. John was admired and respected by all those he influenced worldwide but chose to end his time in quiet dignity and little fanfare.
A quote of Calvin Coolidge was a favorite of John's and provides a fitting epitaph: "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb …"
Memorial donations may be made to Bonner Community Hospice or Panhandle Animal Shelter.
Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit John's memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his online guest book.