Keith R. Himmelright

A memorial service conducted by the family of Keith Raymond Himmelright, 85, of Eveleth, will be held 11am Friday, September 26, 2025 at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home in Gilbert with Pastor Brian Haynes officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A Military Honors Burial will be held in the Lakeside Cemetery in Biwabik with a celebration of his life held at the Gilbert Community Center following the burial.

Keith passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family on Thursday evening September 4th, 2025 at the home of his daughter following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He was born on April 26, 1940 in Guthrie, Minnesota to Kenneth and Helen (Hadrava) Himmelright. The family moved to Hutter where they farmed and Keith attended Gilbert High School. In 1961, Keith joined the US Army and was stationed over in Germany where he obtained his GED, Mechanics degrees in tank engines, and Expert ranking in shooting firearms.

Keith married the love of his life Kathleen Ann (Biondich) on April 14, 1965 and raised their 3 children at their residence that he built at Ely Lake, Eveleth.

He obtained a fabrication degree from the Eveleth Vocational School and worked as a tech at Ramsgate in Eveleth prior to obtaining a permanent position with East Range Clinics as Maintenance. Eventually East Range Clinics merged to Essentia Health in Virginia where Keith retired as Maintenance at age 73. He also owned 4 rental buildings in Eveleth and managed those and numerous renters over the years.

Keith was an amazing man in life. Considered compassionate, patient, kind hearted, and very generous. He was a God loving Christian man who always strived to do the right thing in life. A loving and devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather who did his very best in raising his children and spending time with grandchildren, always putting others' needs above his own. He was funny and light hearted in life and always had the right advice to give to his family. A hard working man, he could spin circles around people with his go getter energy. His coworkers loved working with him very much! Although Keith enjoyed working in life, when he did take time off, he loved music, watching Christian shows, spending time with family, snowmobiling and fishing. Those who did fish with him have quite the funny memories to share!

Survivors include his Children: Sheila (Terry) Cave of Gilbert, Craig Himmelright of Ely Lake and Brett (Jesse) Himmelright of Hibbing; sisters in law; Donna (Glen) Isaacson and Sherry (Mike) Plesha of Bass Lake; brother in law; Butch Rojeski of Bass Lake; nine grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Helen (Hadrava) Himmelright, wife, Kathleen; sisters; Phyliss Mausolf and Jeanette DeYoung, in laws; Milan and Dorothy Biondich, sisters in law; Phyllis Lahti and Bonnie Rojeski, and grandson-in-law Stanley K. Miller.