Keith Westenhaver

Keith Westenhaver, 94 passed away peacefully on April 6, 2021 at Mill Creek Village, Columbia, Missouri.

Keith was born on April 2, 1927 to Marion and Trenna Westenhaver in Decatur, Illinois.  He was a WWII veteran and served in the US Navy aboard the USS Hollister.  He married his childhood companion, Janet Frye on August 13, 1950 at the First English Lutheran Church in Decatur, Illinois.  They spent many happy years together, and celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary just prior to Janet passing away on November 23, 2019.

Keith began work as a draftsman in architectural office in St. Louis, Missouri and then with an engineering firm in Decatur, Illinois before returning to the University of Illinois where he completed his architectural degree in 1957.  He practiced in Decatur until 1970 when he moved his family to the growing city of Columbia, Missouri, where he continued his architectural practice as owner of his own firm.  In 1975, he began construction of the “family built” home South of Columbia in Hillcreek Acres, where he and Janet raised their family, and has been their home for over 46 years.

Like his father, Keith was also an inventor:  In 1972, he patented the “Safety-Pull” brake device for travel trailers, and manufactured many units from the basement of his Decatur home.  This device is still in use on travel trailers, and was the early forerunner to the wrist lanyard safety devices found on outboard boat motors, jet skis, and 4-wheelers.

Among Keith’s favorite architectural design projects were churches.  He also enjoyed his work with numerous Missouri State projects under Governors Kit Bond and John Ashcroft, including renovations and additions to the Missouri State Capitol Building and Governor’s mansion from 1972 until he retired in 1999.  He was elected in back-to-back terms to serve as the President of the American Institute of Architects, and he was nationally renowned for his structural integrity expertise.  Keith was summoned as an expert witness following several major structural failure tragedies including the 1981 Hyatt Regency walkway collapse in Kansas City and the 1999 stage collapse in Branson, Missouri.

After retiring in 1999, Keith actively pursued his woodworking and genealogy hobbies.  He loved creating with wood, and he designed and built much of the wood trim and furniture in his home.  He also wrote two extensively researched family history books, and was proud of the family’s Pre-Revolution Colonial American roots.

Keith leaves behind his two children, John Westenhaver and Ann Veros, seven grandchildren, Jarrod (Megan) McGuire, Megan (Tyler) Lukehart, Cara (Travis) Yockey, Tony (fiancé Madison) Veros, Christopher Veros, Alexandra Veros, David Westenhaver, and eleven great-grandchildren.  Keith was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

There will be a private family grave-side service on April 13, 2021 where Keith will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Janet in Fairlawn Cemetery, Decatur, Illinois.

Memorial contributions may be made in Keith's name to Macon County Historical Society.