Keith "Speck" Everett Buch

Keith Everett “Speck” Buch, at the age of 87 passed away on Monday evening at home surrounded by his family after a long journey with cancer.

Keith was born June 25, 1928 to Leo and Geneva (Adrian) Buch near Keota, Iowa.

Visitation will be held at St Mary Catholic Church, Fairfield, Iowa from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Thursday, November 12, 2015 with prayers and sharing following.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am, Friday, November 13, 2015 at St. Mary Catholic Church with Father Nicolas J. Adam officiating. Following the luncheon at the church burial of cremains will be at Evergreen Cemetery with military rites.

Memorials can be made to St Mary Catholic Church with other memorials to be determined later. Cards and memorials can be mailed to: 1684 Packwood Road, Fairfield, Iowa 52556.

Keith attended St Mary’s Catholic Elementary in Keota, Iowa. In 1942 he then moved along with his family to Jefferson County, graduating from Fairfield High School in the class of 1946. Keith farmed after high school until he was inducted in the Armed Service, January 1951. He served for two years with the 235th Battalion in the ARTY School, major course being Track Vehicle Mechanic.

Keith married Joanne Burns at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa on April 7, 1951. They lived in Sparta, Wisconsin near where Keith was stationed and Lawton, Oklahoma until his discharge, January 1953.

They settled on a farm northwest of Fairfield where they still live today. Along with owning and farming full-time, Keith also attended Indian Hills Community College, worked as a car sales person at Wean Chevrolet and an adjuster for Farmers Mutual Insurance.

Keith is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. He was a past member of the Holy Name Society, Knights of Columbus, past member of the Walton Club, Elks Club, VFW Club and several card clubs.

Keith was an Iowa Big Red Power Club member and an avid exhibitor at Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant. His hobbies were restoring full size tractors and toy tractors with an emphasis on pedal tractors.

Keith is survived by his wife Joanne; five sons, Steve, Ken, Mike (Sandra), John and Terry all of Fairfield; two daughters, Janet (John) Drish of Bettendorf, Iowa and Venice Florida and Phyllis Buch of Fairfield, Iowa.

Grandchildren are Derek (Jill) Drish of San Francisco, CA, Travis Buch of Ollie, IA, Corey (Megan) Buch of Batavia, Dr. Jessica Drish of Mt. Pleasant, IA and Greg Civin of Ames, IA.

Great grandchildren are Case Lee Buch of Batavia, Mackenzie Michael (Mack) and Stella Rose Drish of San Francisco, CA.

Keith is also survived by two sisters, Evalee Mickey of North Liberty, IA and Donna Jean (Don) Shelangoski of Springfield, MO; and one brother, Leonard (Joan) Buch of Fairfield.

Keith was preceded in death by son Greg and his parents, Leo and Geneva Buch, sister Bernadine Sheetz, two brothers Lloyd and Gene.

Prayers and sharing will follow the visitation.

Following the luncheon at the church burial of cremains will be at Evergreen Cemetery with military rites.