Honoring late journalist Bob Keeler’s career, Keeler’s family and community are remembering the lengthy career he had prior to his passing on September 10 in his Hatfield home.
Local journalist Bob Keeler, best known for his work with the Souderton Independent, died at age 66.
Keeler’s brother, Ray Keeler, said that “he was known for writing the facts and not his opinion.”
“He wrote for the local [North Penn] Reporter, Souderton Independent, and the Perkasie News Herald,” Ray said.
According to Keeler’s sister-in-law, Connie Keeler, he spent most of his career writing for these publications, although he wrote for the Pocono Record for a brief period of time.
Connie said that he did most of his reporting on various events, “everything that involved the community.”
According to The Mercury, one of these reports involved compiling a history of his church, the Towamencin Mennonite Church, for their 300 year anniversary in 2015.
Ray agrees, saying that he “loved his church” and helped them with various events such as conferences.
“He did a lot of work with his church as far as writing [and] reporting for them,” Ray said.
This community reporting comes from the personal background that Keeler had in the Souderton area.
Despite Keeler living in the Pocono region for some time, according to Connie, he grew up in Telford and went to the Souderton Area School District. “He was on a more personal level than some people because he was born and raised there, so that meant a lot to him,” Connie said.
According to Ray, Keeler wrote for The Montgomery News for most of his journalistic career through other newspapers like the Souderton Independent.
“He was a reporter for a good part of his adult life,” Ray said.
The Mercury said that the Keeler family received a resolution from the Pennsylvania state House, with some words from state representative Steve Malagari on how Keeler was “a friendly face at local events throughout the Indian Valley and North Penn areas.”
This attentiveness was seen by his colleagues, as well.
According to Connie, his coworkers would say that he was trustworthy and he would complete any job very well.
“I know that they put a lot of their trust in him and if they gave him a job to do that he would get it done,” Connie said.
His attention and care to the community that he served was recognized by the state House, according to The Mercury.
The Pennsylvania State House’s resolution said that Keeler was a journalist who “generously gave his heart and time to enhance the quality of life of his family and community.”
According to Ray, many people will remember him because he would report on stories related to the community with as many facts as he could find for the story.
“He told people truthful stories,” Ray said.
Connie said that he would “[report] what people needed to hear.”
Keeler will be remembered for memorializing the lives and events of the Souderton-Telford region, the Towamencin Mennonite Church and the community members who read his work. He will be missed by those who kept up with the local news and participated in the community and the happenings of the local area for which Keeler reported.