Keith D. Engstrom

Keith Douglas Engstrom, 89 of Des Moines, Iowa passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on the morning of Monday, December 30, 2019 at MercyOne Hospice in Johnston after a long but courageous battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home - McCalley Chapel, 735 S 14th St. Adel, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2020 at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines. Keith was born on January 18th 1930 in Des Moines, Iowa to Bert and Marcella (Clampitt) Engstrom. He grew up in Adel where he graduated high school in 1948. He earned 14 letters in high school and was a unanimous all-conference selection in football, baseball and basketball in 1946, 1947 & 1948. After graduating, he enlisted into the service where he joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, California for two years. After leaving the service, Keith attended Drake University on a football scholarship. Later his love for baseball eventually took him away as he played six seasons of Triple A baseball in the Cincinnati Reds & New York Yankees organizations. After baseball, Keith traveled to Las Vegas where he dealt cards and dealt the first ever hand of baccarat in the city. He retired from K-Mart Corporation in 1993 as a warehouse supervisor. In retirement, Keith loved to be around people and making friends. His warm personality, infectious smile and big heart would grab ahold of you instantly. His passions included golfing, playing cards and following athletics events for both Johnston High School and especially his alma mater Adel-DeSoto-Minburn where he was inducted into the inaugural class of the Adel-DeSoto-Minburn Hall of Fame in 2003, an accolade that he was extremely proud of. He was also an avid Iowa Hawkeyes & Chicago Cubs fan and never missed watching a game for either team. The center of his life however, was his family who he thought the world of and whom he loved so very much. Left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Janet Schuetz of Burnsville, Minnesota, Rhonda Engstrom of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Cheri (Shawn) Sutton of Grimes and Cindi (Scott) Culbertson of Altoona; His sons Jeff Engstrom of Maple Grove, Minnesota, Scott Engstrom of Des Moines, and Justin Engstrom of West Des Moines; His grandkids Daniel, Brandon, Bailey, Brinley, Cierra, Jacob, Jessica, Ryan, Chris, Austin, Hunter, Brielle, Cierra C, Noah, Alex; 7 great grandkids and many friends that he considered family. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dick & Jack Engstrom; and son, Steve Engstrom. A special thank you to the oncology department at the VA hospital and the staff at MercyOne Hospice for the all the wonderful care and comfort that they provided Dad. Memorial contributions may be directed to the VA hospital or to MercyOne Hospice in Johnston.