Obituary of Keith Michael Simons

Keith Michael Simons passed away on July 26, at the age of 63. He was preceded in death by his father George Simons. He was survived by his mother Dorothy Grady Simons, brothers Brian and Steve and their families, sisters Gayle and Cheryl and their families, wife Yvonne, daughter Danielle and son Eric and their families. Keith was a selfless family man, empowerer of people, world-class athlete, and barbecue wizard. Keith dedicated his life to helping people enrich theirs, even in his final days. Born in Belleville, MI, Keith started honing his disciplinary skills working at his father’s garage. While attending Belleville Senior High School, he was a nationally recognized wrestler and football star, eventually earning a football scholarship to compete at the University of Minnesota. A four-year starter for the Golden Gophers, Keith was selected a team captain his senior year and was honored with an AP All-Big Ten Team selection in 1975. After NFL stints in Saint Louis and Kansas City, Keith settled in Saint Paul, MN with his wife Yvonne—becoming the proud father of Danielle and Eric. Through numerous jobs at Frito Lay, Pepsi, Blue Rhino, Twin Cities Rise, et al, one characteristic always rose above others—his ability to find the strengths of the people he worked with and get those individuals to realize those strengths themselves. Keith had a personal credo, to “Create a Great Day”, and he worked his hardest to make that a reality every day he spent on this earth. His final breaths were taken surrounded by the love and support of 63 years of family and cherished friendships. He was grateful for the bonds he formed and proud of the work he had done—as a father, a husband, a brother, a son, a leader, and a friend.