James Ronnie Keizer, 83

James (Jim) was born in Winona, Minn., on Nov. 9, 1938. His family moved to Long Beach, Calif., where his father joined the service working as a mechanic in the Naval Shipyards. They were transferred to Honolulu and Jim has memories as a two-year old, of watching Japanese planes, and being hidden under the kitchen sink during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He then remembers his voyage back to the mainland on a freighter and being tossed about the cabin through a fierce storm.

Jim held a deep love of the Lord even as a child and considered joining the priesthood. He even attended his first year of seminary. Deciding he wasn’t called to the life of a priest, Jim attended Cal State University Long Beach. He met and married his first wife, Janice Bates and raised two children, John and Jennifer, while beginning his career as a teacher of both special ed and regular ed for the Garden Grove Unified School District. Thus began his passion for education and meeting the needs and gifts of each child.

He attended California State University Fullerton, earning his master of science educational administration degree. He loved a challenge and continued his education at UCLA in Clinical Supervision and Clinical Teaching. This allowed him to find true joy in his work, assisting and coaching teachers and administrators to analyze how and what they were doing, looking for ways to individualize their teaching to meet each child’s gifts and talents.

He enjoyed working as a principal in Fountain Valley, Jamul/Dulzura, and New Haven Unified. He also served as an area director in Ontario/Monclair School District, an assistant superintendent in the Oakdale Union School District and ended his career as a superintendent/principal at Banta Elementary School District in the Central Valley of California. All of these positions allowed Jim to develop and coordinate staff development centers and training programs for districts, community and even out of state schools. His staffs teased him, giving him the nickname of the Hatchet Man; able to discern, strategize and cut away the unnecessary instead of “doing what was always done!” The students loved to call him Mr. K. He didn’t believe in sitting behind a desk, but spent his time with teachers and students in classrooms, cafeterias, playgrounds and hallways.

Jim loved life. He was rarely idle. He enjoyed landscaping and maintaining his yards, sports like golf, baseball, and tennis, games, singing, camping, and taking long drives. And … oh, how he loved his coffee! Most of all, Jim loved God’s people. Whether at work, in the neighborhood, at church or family gatherings, he accepted others for who they were. He challenged us to set goals, grow and serve others.

Meeting along the path of life, he and his second wife Debra made a commitment to dedicate their marriage of 37 years, and their homes and lives to loving and serving God and their neighbors. They enjoyed hosting Bible study home fellowships, growing with and serving others at church and sharing God’s love whenever they could. Jim even traveled to Hawaii and back in one day to make sure a loved one on their deathbed knew how important God’s love was, in light of eternity.

After six years of declining health and losing the abilities that were once his strengths, God called Jim home. We miss him so much and look forward to our reunion in eternity together again through God’s grace.

Revelation 14:13 ESV

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ethel (Ellie); brother, Dennis; niece, Linda; and nephew, Richard. He is survived by his wife, Debra; son, John; daughter, Jennifer; and grandchildren, Katie (Jared), Kevin, and Mikayla; great-grandchildren, Madilyn and Benjamin; as well as by in-laws; and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life service will be 2 p.m., Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at Christ the King Lutheran Church; 1700 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

The family requests any donations be made to Hospice of North Idaho, or Christ the King Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are provided by Yates Funeral Home. Online registry and condolences may be found at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.