Keith Van Winkle, 59, of Silsbee, passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016. He was born on September 18, 1956, in Beaumont, to Janette Donalson Van Winkle and Thomas Van Winkle, Sr.
Keith grew up in Silsbee and attended Silsbee Public Schools. In high school he played football, was elected to National Honor Society, and graduated in 1975. Keith attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering in 1980. He held several different jobs before returning to Silsbee in 2000 where he operated a bookkeeping and income tax preparation service.
In 1989 Keith married Karen Durham and they had two children, Jennifer Durham and Marshall Van Winkle; and two granddaughters, whom Keith adored.
Keith was a member of the First United Methodist Church and he and Karen were active members of the Silsbee Lions Club. At the annual Lions Club Pancake Supper, Keith was usually in the kitchen flipping pancakes. He enjoyed cooking and shared what he cooked with family and friends. Keith was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, and uncle. He will be dearly missed by all.
Survivors include his wife, Karen Van Winkle; children, Jennifer Durham of Silsbee and Marshall Garrett Van Winkle of Huntsville; granddaughters, Addisynn Gillum and Makynnzie Rose Creel, both of Silsbee; mother, Janette Van Winkle of Silsbee; brother, Eddie Van Winkle, Jr. and his wife, Sherry, of Silsbee; sisters, Nora Ann Welch of Beaumont and Nancy Jacks and her husband, Jeff, of Nacogdoches; nieces and nephews, Regina Van Winkle of Beaumont; Van Van Winkle and his wife, Patricia, and their daughter, Elizabeth Van Winkle, all of Austin; Kirby Thierheimer and her husband, Zack, of Webster; Daniel Van Winkle of Silsbee; Katy Jacks, Scott Jacks, and Nikki Jacks, all of Nacogdoches; and aunt, Helen Bistline of Beaumont. He is preceded in death by his father, Eddie Van Winkle, Sr.
With heavy hearts, his loving family and friends will gather to celebrate Keith’s life from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 29, 2016, at Broussard’s, 490 Cemetery Road, Silsbee. His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, June 30, 2016, at First United Methodist Church, 670 North 5th Street, Silsbee, with his interment to follow at Knupple Cemetery, Silsbee.
