Keith Robbins

Keith Robbins, 84 died Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at his home. Funeral mass will be at 10:30am Saturday, February 20, 2010 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Marion with burial at the church cemetery. A Scripture Service/Rosary will be said at 7:30pm Friday evening at the church. Arrangements by Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Chapel, Marion. George Keith Robbins was born on August 16, 1925 near Esmund, SD to George W. and Hattie Marie (Harmon) Robbins. His father died when he was 9 months old and his mother moved into Carthage. He graduated from Carthage High School and attended Augustana College. During WW II he served in the US Army Air Corp and was in the European Theatre for 3 months in Italy as a radio operator/gunner in a B-24 squadron, 15th Air Corps as a corporal. On October 16, 1952 he was united in marriage to Catherine Schmidt at Woonsocket. To this union 5 children where born. His newspaper career began as an apprentice to his brother-in-law and sister, Oliver and Bernice Freed, at Artesian and Woonsocket before taking over the Alpena Journal. After 7 years he returned to Woonsocket to partnership with the Freeds in The News. In 1958 he purchased the Marion Record from D.D. Lewis. Over the years he experienced many changes in the newspaper and printing trade from hand-set and hot metal typesetting, and letterpress printing to photo typesetting and offset printing to computerized composition, and mastering the combined trades of linotype operator/machinist, weekly editor, pressman, job printer plus that of Father confessor. Over the years under this tutelage many high school children learned the basics of the newspaper and printing business, as well as secretarial work. On Christmas Eve of 1987 a fire completely destroyed the newspaper building. In 1995 he and his wife sold the Marion Record and he retired from the newspaper business. Following his retirement he drove the Tieszen Home van, school van, and cars for Rapp Chevrolet in Marion. Throughout the years he was very active in the business organizations in both Alpena and Marion serving as president and as longtime secretary/treasure, was an honorary member of the Fire Department, chairman of the Cub Scouts and Swim Team programs, member of the American Legion and Lions Club, member of St. Mary Catholic Church and served on the church council, Turner County Republican Party, South Dakota Press Association, National Editorial Association, Marion Development Corp, Par-Mar Valley Country Club, and made a profound impact in Marion and the surrounding area by keeping the public informed of news affecting their daily lives, and in his quiet way got things done. He was a community leader in his city and church. He practiced the responsibilities that go along with publishing a small town newspaper. He practiced honesty, integrity, and caring for his community. Grateful for having shared his life are a son, Craig Robbins, and wife Colleen of Tualatin, OR, Cory, Camryn, Cayden, and Nick with wife Ana and their 3 children, Bailee, Gabrielle, and Dylan, Rapid City, and Thomas of Alaska; four daughters, Renee McConniel and husband Dick, Marion, their children Josh and wife Melissa and their 2 children Isabelle and Finley of Marion, and Zach and wife Jennifer and daughter Emma, Marion, and Michelle, Marion; Rita McVay and husband Keith, Marion and their children, Jerad and wife Kelsey and Broxsen , Sioux Falls, Tyler, Marion, Dustin and fiancé Angela, Sioux Falls, Tera, and Conner, Marion; Nita Jensen and husband Rich, and their children David and wife Kasey, Meriden, KS, and Roxanne Chadwell and husband Mitchell, Dell Rapids; and Mary Gascoigne and husband Steve, Sioux Falls and children Jesse and Josh, Sioux Falls and Emily, Marion; and a sister, Ruth (Verner) Hanson, Lebanon, OR.