Allan G ."Big Al" Keim

Allan G. "Big Al" Keim, 60 years of Waterloo, IL, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 11th, surrounded by family and friends after a short battle with a rare form of cancer at Kindred Hospital South, St. Louis, MO. He was born December 11, 1964, in Red Bud, IL to Ronald and Geraldine (nee Fredrick) Keim. Al had the biggest heart & was always there to help. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, Cardinals baseball, hockey, basketball, football and spending time with family. He was a former Union Plasterer and member of Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association Local 0090. He loved college football and went to the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship for the Gophers, playing offensive tackle. Al had the opportunity to travel all over the country where his lifelong friend, Mike, coached college teams and really enjoyed being on the sidelines – it was one of the highlights of his life. After college, Al coached the Little Knights football team in Belleville, IL. He was a great cook who loved to BBQ & smoke meat in the homemade smoker he & a friend made. Every time his chili was entered into a cook-off, it won 1st place with his secret recipe that he never shared -Al was very proud of that. He loved his job at Quality Rental in Columbia, IL & never met a stranger, even his doctors became his friends. He also made a lot of friends while working at Mobil On the Run in Waterloo, IL. Al was a proud, patriotic American. Surviving is his wife, Janice (nee Ital) Keim; his daughter, Jennifer (nee Hastings) Frame; his grandchildren, Blake Frame & Haley Frame; sister, Theresa (Bruce Jr.) Pickert; his niece, Kelsey Reynolds (Chris); his nephew, Drew Reynolds (Kylie); his best friends, Leo Fulbright & Mike Simmonds; his fur baby cat, Jack; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ronald Gene & Geraldine Marie Keim; his brother-in-law, David Reynolds; his mother-in-law, Johnnie Ital & his son-in-law, Ray Frame Jr. Visitation will be on Thursday, July 17, 2025 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt, IL. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 1:00 pm with a visitation beginning at 12:00 pm, at Leesman Funeral Home in Millstadt, IL with Pastor Myles Holmes officiating. Interment will follow in the Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Waterloo, IL. In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to Helping Strays of Monroe County. Al was an avid animal lover but especially partial towards cats and never turned away a stray. For more information, please access our website, www.leesmanfuneralhome.com

Allan G ."Big Al" Keim

December 11, 1964 - July 11, 2025