The Sparty nation has lost one of its fiercest and most loyal fans. Howard Keith Markle, affectionately known as Keith, passed away, June 24, 2024, at Munson Hospital, from post surgical complications. Keith was born on April 25, 1935 in Ann Arbor. At 9 months old, he was adopted and lovingly raised by Howard and Crystal Markle in Lansing.

Keith met his forever love when he and his family moved into the neighborhood where Carleen lived. He
was in the third grade, she in the fourth, and the rest is history. It was a match made in heaven. They married in June of 1954 and together they raised 5 children. Keith provided his cherished family with security and everything they needed. They wanted for nothing and their home was filled with much love and stability.

While in high school, Keith explored his thespian side by participating in a school play, and his musical abilities, playing the trumpet in the marching band. But alas, neither Hollywood or the music scene could tear him away from his one and only love, Carleen.

Keith had various jobs over the years as a mail carrier, truck driver, draftsman, warehouse worker, security, and a home delivery milkman, before landing a job with the State of Michigan, as a dairy inspector, from which he retired in 1994. The job required him to travel to restaurants and dairy farms in Ottawa, Kent and parts of Ionia counties. Because he spent a lot of time on dairy farms, he had the unfortunate luck of coming home smelling like a barn and sharing his signature scent of bovine, eau de parfum. When he arrived home after work, he would walk through the back door, remove his work clothes and throw them down the basement stairs to be immediately washed!

A fighter from the very beginning, he had his appendix removed when he was just under a year old. Later in life, Keith battled and conquered vocal chord cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer and heart disease. The vocal chord cancer required a difficult but necessary surgery, consisting of a total laryngectomy at The University of Michigan Medical Center. Having to undergo the process in Wolverine territory was the topic of many jokes, as his blood ran green for his beloved University.

Keith's hobbies included hunting, fishing, golfing and playing on a men's softball league. The love of baseball runs deep in the Markle family and has been carried on by some of his sons, grandsons and now, great grandsons. He enjoyed taking his family on summer camping trips to various campgrounds in Michigan. After he retired, he did most of the cooking and was famous for his Thanksgiving dinners and his giant peanut butter cookies. But most importantly, was his strong faith and love for Jesus. He and Carleen brought their children up in the church and created a warm, loving, safe Christian home for their family.

Keith is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Crystal; his sister, Kathryn; his in~laws, Carl and Iva Hedlund and his sons, Jeff and Scott. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Carleen; his children Steve and his wife Laurie, Jim and his wife Judy, Joanie and her husband Jeff and brother Marv and his wife LaFae. He adored his grandchildren Ryan(Ashley), Sean(Kelsey), Trey(Kaymi), Matt(Sara), Zack(Ashley), Shawnah(Fiance' Rob), Casey, Jamey and Jeromy; and his great grandchildren, Cayden, Emerson, Gavin, Chloe, Ryley, Brody, Sutton, Jaycob, Lily, Ari, and Mabel; in addition to many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

A private family memorial service will be held at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Keith's memory to the American Cancer Society, The Franklin Grahm Ministry-Samaritans Purse, or to the charity of your choosing.