Keith Cerhan

KEITH ALLAN CERHAN

Cedar Rapids

Col. Keith Allan Cerhan, 81, of Sun Lakes, Ariz., died Nov. 28, 2017 of heart failure after a brief illness.

He was born in North Liberty, Iowa, on June 9, 1936, to Robert and Julia (Krob) Cerhan. He graduated from Oxford High School in 1954. He married Mary Ann Stanerson on Oct. 25, 1961, in Cedar Rapids.

Keith was honored to serve his country for more than 46 years, both as a soldier and a civilian employee in the United States Army Reserve. He attended Officers Candidate School at Fort Sill, Okla., and served in reserve units in Sioux City, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minn.; Ames, Iowa; and Des Moines, Iowa, rising to the rank of colonel. He served as battalion commander and chief of staff of the 103rd COSCOM and at retirement in 2000, was the command executive officer of the 19th Theater Army Area Command, CONUS Augmentation (TAACOM(CA) in Des Moines.

In 2003, Keith and Mary Ann moved to Sun Lakes. Keith enjoyed golfing, watching his favorite sports teams and dancing with Mary Ann.

Keith is survived by Mary Ann; his twin sister, Kay (Robert) Miller of North English; his son, James (Jane) Cerhan of Rochester, Minn.; daughter, Ann (Donald) Smith of Burlingame, Calif.; and grandchildren, Peter, Leah and Jack Cerhan, and Caroline, Natalie and Grant Smith.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Cerhan; and sister, Rita Fields.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Dec. 20 at St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Sun Lakes. A memorial service and burial in the Iowa Veteran's Cemetery in Adel, Iowa, is being planned for next spring.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.buelermortuary.com.