Obituary of John Keiper

John KeiperVENETA — A graveside service and burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland for John Richard Keiper of Veneta, who died June 30 of age-related causes. He was 78.He was born Sept. 26, 1932, in Hazelton, Pa., to Thomas and Marion Hazzard Keiper. He married Lorenah Bendschadler on June 17, 1961, in Eugene; she died Oct. 13, 1998.He graduated from Wicomico High School in Salisbury, Md. He retired from the Navy, where he served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star medal for combat with valor. He worked as bosun’s mate on an Oregon State University research vessel.Survivors include two daughters, Sherri of Junction City and Patricia of Seattle; a son, Devon of Eugene; one grandchild and one great-grandchild.A daughter, Cynthia, died in 1983.Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene. Remembrances to www.woundedwarriorproject.org.