Alex R. McKeown "changed addresses" to his heavenly home on January 29, 2022 after a long battle with frontotemporal degeneration. He was born in Monroe, WI on January 21, 1956, the first child of the late George and Donna McKeown. He attended St. Victor's Elementary School, Monroe Junior High School, and graduated from Monroe High School in 1974. He was an all-conference high school fullback and heavyweight wrestler, and part of the track and field team, throwing the shot put and discus. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW-LAX) recruited him to play Division III football and he played on the freshman and JV teams for one season. He graduated with honors from UW-LAX in May 1978, majoring in history and minoring in political science. Before starting graduate school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), he worked at Huber Brewery in Monroe, where he also worked summers during college. He went on to obtain master's and Ph.D. degrees from the UW-Madison.
While attending graduate school, he met his future wife Sue (a UW-Madison employee). They were married on May 31, 1986 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison by Rev. Jacobson.
Alex and Sue moved to central Ohio in August 1986 so Alex could begin his career at Kenyon College as an assistant professor. He obtained tenure and was promoted to Associate Professor. They lived in Mount Vernon, Westerville, Worthington, and eventually purchased a home in Plain Township and lived there for 21 years, before downsizing to a condo in Gahanna. Alex enjoyed playing poker; working out at the gym; playing racquetball, squash, and pickup basketball; movies, both old and new (he would have seen a movie or movies every day if time permitted); playing turn-based war games on his computer, and cheering on the Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, and Milwaukee Brewers. When Sue wasn't watching, he'd also sometimes root for the Ohio State Buckeyes (if their wins didn't hurt the Badgers!).
Unfortunately, frontotemporal degeneration forced Alex's early retirement from academic life. He retired from teaching in June 2012.
Alex is survived by his wife, Sue; three sisters, Meighan McKeown of Burlington, WI, Peg Knaapen of Muskego, WI, and Mary (John) Washbush of Milwaukee, WI; three nieces, Emily, Kate, and Ellie; sister-in-law Cheryl (Keith) of Ashland, WI, sister-in-law Linda (Steve) of Brodhead, WI, and brother-in-law Mark (Kim) of Stoughton, WI, and numerous nieces and nephews on Sue's side of the family.
Visitation for Alex will take place at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, 7501 S. Old State Road, Lewis Center, OH 43035, from 4-6 pm on Friday, February 18, with a funeral service at 10 am on Saturday, February 19, Fr. Ron Baird presiding, with Fr. Wil Verhoff assisting. Burial will occur at Mifflin Township Cemetery following the funeral, with a gathering at a nearby restaurant for all interested.
Sue wishes to thank the staff of Forest Hills Center, Dr. Douglas Scharre and Renee Kovescki, CNP, of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, for the excellent care they provided to Alex for many years, as well as Capital City Hospice for their care during Alex's last months of life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Alex's memory to St. Andrew's Anglican Church to support the resettlement of an Afghan refugee family the church is sponsoring, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.org), or Dr. Scharre's research at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center (Alzheimer's Disease Research Fund in Neurology, Fund #302185). To leave online condolences, visit www.schoedinger.com.
Peace to Alex's memory. May his soul and the souls of all faithful departed rest in peace.
