Cover photo for Colonel Keith Allan Cerhan's Obituary
Colonel Keith Allan Cerhan Profile Photo
Colonel

Colonel Keith Allan Cerhan

Colonel Keith Allan Cerhan

, age 81, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, died on November 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, and he graduated from Oxford High School in 1954. He married Mary Ann Stanerson on October 25, 1961 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 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, Oklahoma, and served in reserve units in Sioux City, Iowa; Minneapolis, Minnesota; 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, Iowa. In 2003, Keith and Mary Ann moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona. 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, Iowa; his son James (Jane) Cerhan of Rochester, Minnesota, and daughter Ann (Donald) Smith of Burlingame, California; 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 on December 20 at 10:00 a.m. 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. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Keith’s name to the American Heart Association (AHA). Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.buelermortuary.com.
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