Kenneth Michael "Mike" Keller ’72 passed away at his home in Grimes on Wednesday, January 28, at the age of 64. Mike, as he was commonly referred to, was born in Woodland to Kenneth Andrew Keller, Jr. and Elizabeth Joyce Keller. Mike was raised in Colusa and graduated from Colusa High School in 1968. He attended the University of San Francisco, then transferred to Santa Clara University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1972.

Summers during his college years were often spent as a camp counselor at Kennolyn Camp in the Santa Cruz mountains. After college, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves, where he served in Alameda, CA; New Jersey, and Virginia. After the Coast Guard, Mike moved to the Santa Cruz region to teach at Quail Hollow Elementary. While in the Santa Cruz area, Mike married Linda Lee Reames ’75 of Ben Lomond, CA in 1975. Mike and Linda have two children, Patrick (who resides in Los Angeles) and Christopher (who resides in Denver). In 1979, Mike and his family moved back to Colusa where he began farming in Grimes with his father. Mike farmed rice and other commodities over 30 years and also served the community in many ways.

For years, Mike served on the Grand Island Fire Department in Grimes and also served on various agricultural committees and groups. Mike’s love of horses started as a child. He taught others horseback riding while a counselor at Kennolyn Camp and actively rode well into adulthood. Mike enjoyed giving his sons and other kids in the area horseback rides around the Keller ranch and on camping trips. Other passions of Mike’s were collecting and restoring antique furniture and appliances, local and world history, and his beloved dogs: a yellow labrador retriever (Holly) and a basset hound (Charlie). For the past 22 years, Mike has been on his quest to restore Ella Miller’s former residence in Grimes, affectionately known as "Gram’s House." Mike is survived by his mother Joyce, sister Candyce Dormer’ 75 (Candy), sons Patrick and Christopher (Carly), nephew Donald Dormer ’07, brother-in-law Don Dormer ’75, and girlfriend of 18 years, Kimberlee Caldwell.