KEITH D. WALKER, 87, of rural Cherokee, Iowa passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2016 surrounded by his family at his home southwest of Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, April 12th, at 10:30 a.m. at the Quimby United Methodist Church. Pastor Barb Dinelli will officiate. Burial will be at Pilot Township Cemetery. Visitation will be on Monday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. with a prayer service to be held at 7:30 p.m. On line condolences may be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Keith was born August 25, 1928 at Pierson, Iowa to Harry and Pearl (Morgan) Walker. He graduated from Pierson High School in 1946. He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corp, completed basic training at Camp Pendleton and later received a medical discharge. Keith returned to Pierson, Iowa, became a hired hand where he discovered his future wife Marlene Carlson. They were married on March 21, 1954 at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa. The family moved to Cherokee in 1957 where he farmed, started the garbage collection business of W.C. Inc., was a dirt contractor and later owned and operated the family business of Walker Sand & Gravel until the business was sold in 1991.

Keith enjoyed his retirement collecting and restoring antique tractors, woodworking, fishing and spending time with his family.

He was affiliated with the United Methodist Church. He was a member of the American, Legion, the Lions Club, Friends of Conservation, Toastmasters, Red Power Club, the Cherokee County Fair Board and had served on the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors.

He is survived by his wife Marlene of 62 years; three children; Randy (Jane) Walker of Cherokee, Iowa; Larry (Jean) Walker of Cherokee, Iowa; Trudy (Brad) Schroeder of Alta, Iowa; 8 grandchildren: Karina (James) Cascione of Feura Bush, New York; Wyatt (Allie) Walker of Hartford, South Dakota; Justin (Julia) Walker of Denver, Colorado; Jason (Julianne) Walker of Raymore, Missouri; Brandon Walker (special friend Kari Groeneweg) of Cherokee, Iowa; Brett Walker of Cherokee, Iowa; Molly Schroeder (special friend Ike Isaacs) of Alta, Iowa; Brooke Schroeder (special friend Jordan Frahm) of Cherokee, Iowa; 11 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews , brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Ivan and Lowell Walker and an infant sister, Ona Marie