James Donald (Don) Keenan, M.D., age 87, died on October 30th, 2024. He was born on May 12, 1937 in Great Bend, Kansas to the parents of Emmett Keenan and Margaret (Doll) Keenan. He graduated from Saint Mary Cathedral High School in Wichita, Kansas in 1955 where he met his future wife, Margaret Harrison. They were wed in 1957 then furthered his education obtaining a degree in biology from Regis College in Denver, Colorado. Post-graduation he was accepted to the University of Kansas School of Medicine graduating in 1963. He then joined the U.S. Air Force and was assigned to Little Rock Air Force base where he served for 2 years. He was awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal for services as Chief of Occupational Medicine before accepting an Orthopedic Surgery residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. in. Four years later he was transferred to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he served as a Flight Surgeon and the team physician to the USAFA Falcons football team. He resigned from his service obligation two years later and moved the family to Tulsa, Oklahoma where he began his 28-year orthopedic surgery practice with Dr. Harry Livingston.
Don served as President of the Tulsa Men's Club and was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, Rotary Club, served at Neighbor for Neighbor and sponsored 4 Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s. He took great pride in landscaping his own yard and because of his skill with a hammer and saw there was never anything in need of repair around the house. Most of his spare time was devoted to his family. He will always be remembered as a kind, humble and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He was truly a gentle gentleman who was respected by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Margaret Keenan, sister Janyce Kretschmer, (Bill), Galena, Ohio, three children, Teresa Caruso (Dennis) Tulsa, Steve Keenan, Oklahoma City, Kathy Keenan, Yukon, 8 grandchildren, Natalie Farinacci (Jimmy), Naples, FL, Emily Cook (James), Diamondhead, MS, Nick Caruso, (Madelynn), Omaha, NE, Mitch Brown (Jenna), Edmond, OK, Katie Sayger (Matthew), Georgetown, TX, Sophia Vining (Jonathan), Huntsville TX, Elizabeth Downey (Zac) Sherman, TX, Harrison Keenan, (Oklahoma City ), 8 nephews and 5 great grandchildren.
A viewing and rosary is scheduled for Thursday, November 7, 2024 at Fitzgerald's Southwood Colonial Chapel from 3:00-5:00 p.m. A funeral is scheduled for Friday, November 8, 2024, at the Church of Saint Mary at 11:00 a.m.
In Lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Church of Saint Mary, Right to Life, Forty Days for Life or Emergency Infant Services.