Keith was born the son of Marvin and Violet Wignall Ward in Knoxville, Iowa on August 4, 1930. He was raised on the family farm near Tracy, Iowa and graduated with the Tracy High School class of 1948. He then attended radio school in Omaha, Nebraska. Keith was united in marriage to Dolores JoAnn Shipp on March 12, 1952, at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa. To this union was born their children, Cindy, Darrell, Brenda, and Brian. The couple resided in Ottumwa, Iowa and Keith worked at John Deere. The couple then moved to Oskaloosa, where they lived most of their lives, and Keith was employed at J.B. Clow. In 1966, they moved to Victor, Iowa and Keith began his many years of service at Amana Refrigeration in Amana, Iowa. He served as a foreman and then worked in the service department before retiring from Amana in February of 1993. Keith was a member of the United Methodist Church in Victor and was a former member of the Eagles Lodge #276 in Oskaloosa. He was an outdoorsman and sportsman, who enjoyed fishing, camping, bowling, and was a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and St. Louis Cardinals. He was known for his generosity and always extended his hand to people when they needed help. The day before his passing, he mentioned his favorite time of his life was their recent family trip to Las Vegas and to the Grand Canyon in October of 2006. Keith is survived by his children, Cindy (Gary) Gryp of Victor, Darrell Ward of Victor, Brenda (Steve) Lappin of Cedar, Iowa, and Brian (Rhonda) Ward of Ladora, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his brothers, Kenneth (Eileen) Ward of New Sharon, Iowa, Paul (Colleen) Ward of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Roger (Shirley) Ward of Springfield, Illinois, and Merrill (Shirley) Ward of Knoxville, Iowa; and his sisters, Jean (Pete) DenBurger of Ogden, Arkansas, and Connie (Bill) Thomas of Knoxville, Iowa. Keith was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife of 54 years, Dolores on February 7, 1985. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Keith Ward Memorial Fund and may be sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home.