Ardy Keck

Ardy Keck, 89 of Fort Collins, Colorado passed away on December 4, 2010 at home after a courageous battle against lymphoma. Ardy was born November 1, 1921 in Decatur, Illinois to the Hollis Keck's and his three older siblings. Ardy attended public schools in Decatur, Illinois and during high school, worked in a steel foundry as well. Enduring the depression hardships with his family left indelible memories which influenced his work ethic and compelled him to be conservative throughout his life. Ardy enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving as a diesel mechanic in the engine room below the water line on an LST off the North African coast. Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, Ardy resumed his courtship of Alice Lee Whitley, the pretty little girl next door who was born one year and two and a half months after he was. They were married on September 9, 1945 and celebrated their 65th anniversary in 2010. Through all those years they had fun confounding people by both signing A.L. Keck on everything. Unless you knew their handwriting, you didn't know whose signature it was. Ardy and Alice moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where Ardy completed a degree in Forestry at Colorado State University and worked summers at Rocky Mountain National Park. He had numerous hair-raising and amusing stories to tell about those years. After graduation from CSU, Ardy returned to Decatur and became owner/manager of a bird hunting lodge at Rice Lake. Once again he could regale friends and family with countless stories of the famous and infamous people he befriended in those days. On March 31, 1950 Ardy and Alice welcomed their only child, Craig, known as Bo, into their world. After living with Alice's parents for several years, the little family of three struck out for Fort Collins again. Ardy worked for the CSU Forestry Department, planting windbreaks in the four state areas of Colorado/Wyoming/Nebraska and Kansas. He then switched to being a food service manager until retirement, while Alice worked in bookkeeping at CSU. After retirement from CSU, Ardy worked at the Fort Collins Elks Club. Ardy was an avid golfer and fly fisherman, excelling at both. He was urged a number of times to become a professional golfer. He passed his fishing prowess on to Bo and Bo remembers fondly the many days they shared stalking the big ones. The Keck's in retirement remodeled their cabin at Rustic up the Poudre River, making it their permanent home from 1983 until 1997. They then moved to the cityFort Collins to their current address. It was impossible to go anywhere in Fort collins without running into old friends or people Ardy worked with at CSU or especially long-ago students at CSU who worked under his supervision. He received endless credit for helping make them what they are today. This gave him great joy. Always they called him "Mr. Keck". Ardy was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Russell and Junior; and sister, Ruth. He is survived by his wife, of 65 years, Alice Lee Keck of Fort Collins; his son, Craig M. Keck Bo and his daughter-in-law, Jeanie Keck of Bozeman, Montana. The family would like to thank Pathways Hospice for the extraordinary care given to Ardy. An Open House will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2011 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Keck family home, 2524 Coventry Ct. in Fort Collins.