April 21, 1928 - December 02, 2020
He was born on April 21, 1928 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to Karl Elton and Jennie Elizabeth (Harrison) Keefer.
Jim was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who came to know the Lord at eight years of age. He married his beloved wife of 59 years, Aurelia Jane Sparks, on May 27, 1953 in Greenville, SC. Together they invested 38 years of their lives as missionaries serving the people in Ethiopia and continued their support of missions after they retired. Jim held four degrees including a doctorate in Old Testament Studies. While in Ethiopia, Jim ministered by teaching, transliterating the Bible into the Anywaa language, church planting, and serving as a professor at Mekane Yesus Seminary for 21 years. After his retirement, he was involved in his church, several Bible studies, and presbytery meetings. He enjoyed studying Bible texts in depth in their original Hebrew and Greek languages, reading a wide variety of historical and other substantive books, doing complex acrostics and jigsaw puzzles, as well as hiking, singing, and listening to sacred and classical music. He was also very involved in his children and grandchildren’s lives. To the end of his life, he was steadfast, faithful, gracious, considerate, and humble. We will all miss him very much but know that he is with Jesus whom he loved above all else.
He is survived by his daughters, Jenny Anne Patrick of Loveland, CO, Aurelia Jane (Bob) Sturm of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Emily Ruth Keefer of Loveland, CO, Esther Beth Keefer of Canon City, CO, Sarah Sue (Dale) Adams of Florence, CO; son, James Martyn (Erin) Keefer of Longmont, CO; grandchildren, Sammie, Rachel, Jamie, Amy, Matt, Marcy, Joel, Abenezer and Tsega; great grandchildren, James, Salem, Adam, Harmony, Moira, Ewan, Isaac, Russell, and Nehemiah.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Aurelia Keefer; his parents; his brother, Karl Elton Keefer II; his son-in-law, Kenny Patrick; and grandchildren, John, Mark and Chrissy Sturm.
A family graveside service will be held on Monday, December 7, in Torrington, WY.
Memorial Contributions may be made to SIM, Frontiers, or MAF with whom family members are currently serving.
