Keith Englund

Age 89, of Lakeland, passed away on February 7, 2025.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Marge; his brother, Garth; and his sister, Marcia.

He leaves behind his beloved wife of 64 years, Joan; and children and grandchildren Jeff (Pam) Englund, Kari (Joel) Root, Paige (Bryan) Christensen, Alec Englund, Trevor Englund, Morgan Root, Connor Root, Jack Englund, Ali Christensen, and CJ Christensen.

Born on March 16, 1935, in Bemidji, Minnesota, Keith spent his childhood moving often as his father worked for the railroad. The family eventually settled in St. Paul, where Keith grew up. He was active in his church youth group and Boy Scouts and graduated from Johnson High School in 1953. He later attended the University of Minnesota before joining the Air Force in January 1955. Keith served on active duty until December 1958, spending much of his time working in air traffic control and communications in Cutbank, Montana.

In November 1959, Keith met Joan, the love of his life, on a blind date. Though both were initially unsure, they quickly fell in love and married on October 8, 1960. Keith went on to work as a design engineer at 3M, where he had a long and fulfilling career. Keith and Joan's family grew with the adoption of their children, Jeff in 1966 and Kari in 1969.

In 1973, Keith and Joan moved their family to Lakeland, Minnesota, where they made a home in a house that Keith built himself. Keith had a passion for working with his hands, and over the years, he built countless pieces of furniture, toys, and other projects in his workshop. The family became active members of Memorial Lutheran Church in Afton, Minnesota, where they formed lasting friendships and supported the church community. Keith and Joan also found joy in playing volleyball and kittenball with their friends.

Keith retired from 3M in 1993, and after retiring, he and Joan enjoyed traveling, hiking, and camping together. He also loved golfing, boating, snowmobiling, and most of all, spending time with his children and grandchildren. Even after retiring, Keith’s love of woodworking never faded, and he was always there to help his children with their home improvement projects.

A celebration of Keith’s life will take place on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Memorial Lutheran Church, 15730 South Afton Boulevard, Afton, with visitation one hour prior to the service. The family will welcome friends and loved ones for a reception following the service at the church.