Louis O'Keefe

Louis "Lou" J. O'Keefe, 87, departed this world on November 30, 2015.

He was born at Grand Rapids, MI, in 1928, the first-born child of Louis O'Keefe, Sr., and Margaret (Muldoon) O'Keefe. The family moved to Mishawaka, IN, in 1942. Lou graduated from Central Catholic High School at South Bend, IN, in 1946, and earned a business degree from the University of Notre Dame. In 1951 the U.S. Army drafted him out of Notre Dame's Law School during the Korean conflict. Lou served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps at Ft. Richardson, Alaska, from 1951-1953.

On October 6, 1951, at Ft. Custer, MI, Lou married Gloria (Badagnani) O'Keefe, whom he described as "one awesome woman." After 64 years of marriage, she survives him, along with their eight children: Susan (Michael) Conner, Kevin O'Keefe, Kathleen (Mark) Hendrickson, Michael (Chandra) O'Keefe, Timothy (Meredith) O'Keefe, Patrick O'Keefe, David (Tamra) O'Keefe and Karen (Barry) Melbert. Fifteen grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive him, along with two sisters—Mary Clark and Rita Newman.

Lou was preceded in death by an infant son, John, and an infant grandson, Sean. He also was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, James, and sister-in-law, Connie, and two brothers-in-law, Ernest Clark and Cecil Newman.

Following his honorable discharge from the Army, Lou joined the Bendix Corporation and retired after 33 years of service at South Bend, IN, and Jackson, TN. He served Bendix in various executive roles until his retirement in 1986. Lou and Gloria relocated to Indianapolis in 1993 and to Fishers in 2007.

Sports occupied a huge place in Lou's life. At Central Catholic High School, he earned MVP honors on both the varsity baseball and basketball teams. He later played shortstop on fast-pitch softball teams sponsored by the Mishawaka and South Bend Knights of Columbus. Those teams won state championships in the 1940's and 1950's. He later coached CYO basketball at St. Joseph's Grade School in Mishawaka, where his teams won several city championships in the late 1950's and early 1960's. An avid golfer, Lou hit two holes-in-one, including one at age 64. He was a devoted Notre Dame fan, attending home football games for more than a half-century.

Besides sports, Lou's great loves were reading historical novels, playing cards and gathering with his family and many friends. He often helped make homemade ravioli for them, noting that 60-plus years of marriage to an Italian culinary wonder had turned him into "a professional."

Lou was a member of Holy Spirit at Geist Catholic Church at Fishers, IN, and Our Lady of Light Catholic Community at Estero, FL, where he and Gloria spent winters since 2007. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3443, Indianapolis, and the Notre Dame clubs of Indianapolis and Ft. Myers, FL.

As he enjoyed the beautiful Florida sunshine last winter, Lou quipped: "Heaven must be better than this, or I don't want to go." As our family reminisces about our husband and dad, we envision him enjoying blue skies, holes in one, good books, dinner with friends, and Notre Dame football's return to the Top Ten.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., Friday, December 4, followed by an 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Holy Spirit at Geist Catholic Church, 10350 Glaser Way, Fishers, IN. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests charitable donations be made to Riley Children's Foundation or Holy Spirit Catholic Church at Geist.

Newcomer Funeral Home, Indianapolis, is handling arrangements. For more information, visit www.Newcomerindianapolis.com