Keith Austin Wymore
Keith Austin Wymore
Cedar Rapids
Keith Austin Wymore, 97, of Cedar Rapids, died Tuesday January 16, 2024, at home surrounded by family. Services: 11:00 a.m. Wednesday January 24, 2024, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories, where a visitation will begin at 9:0 0 a.m. until service time. Burial: Private at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Jeanette; 3 daughters, Cindi Scott (Jay Wilson) of Costa Mesa, California, Pam Fox of Cedar Rapids, Kari Wymore Atzen of Pleasant Hill; 5 grandchildren, David Scott (Nell) of Klamath Falls, OR, Robert Fox (Lindsay) of Cedar Rapids, Amy Kraeling (Tim) of Athens, GA, Peyton Atzen of Pleasant Hill, and Riley Atzen of Iowa City; 4 great grandchildren, Kaia Scott, Beau Kraeling, Ella Fox, and Wyatt Kraeling; 3 brothers, Ronald Wymore of Ottumwa, Larry Wymore (Joan) of Clearwater, FL and Bob Wymore of Ottumwa. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Dick Wymore and Roger Wymore.
Keith was born on October 6,1926, in Burlington, Iowa, the son of Kenneth and Ellen (Welch) Wymore. He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1944, during WWII, and as soon as he turned 18 in October he enlisted in the Army. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in July, 1945, and then stationed in Hawaii until discharged in November, 1946. He graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1950 with a degree in education. Keith took his first job in Conroy, Iowa, as a teacher/coach. He married Jeanette Marie Wichmann on August 24, 1952, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Conroy, Iowa. Keith went on to teach/coach in Jewell, Springville, and Cedar Rapids until 1959, when he got his masters in education from University of Iowa. He enjoyed teaching and working with younger kids, so he spent the next 30 years as an elementary school principal at Buchanan, Hayes, Hiawatha, and Wright schools. Keith was very active with youth oriented organizations such as the Scouts (Hawkeye Council for Scouting) and was a long time member of the Optimist Club.
Keith so-called “retired” in 1989 from administration (to the golf course), but he continued to substitute teach for another 25 plus years. He loved sports and especially if it involved the Iowa Hawkeyes. At age 96 he was still working security at as many Hawkeye events as he could possibly fit in. Keith also loved to travel and one of his most memorable trips was the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight to Washington DC, in 2011. His love for golf accomplished him 2 hole-in-ones, and at age 84, a trip with his grandson to the Masters. He was a life-long member of the YMCA and loved the 95th birthday party that the staff planned for him at the StarLite with, surprise guest, Mayor Brad Hart.
Keith was a great family man, husband, and friend to many. When the grandchildren were younger, he attended as many of their baseball, basketball, soccer, cross country, football, softball, and volleyball events as he possibly could. When they got older and relocated, he looked forward to visiting them in Oregon, Texas, Georgia, and Washington. He always looked forward to seeing them come home for the holidays. Keith spent a lot of time socializing with fellow teachers and principals outside of work and especially into his retirement years to include playing racquetball, fishing trips, hunting trips, bowling, playing cards, and most of all competing on the golf course. Wherever he would go, he was often approached by former students who remembered him as their teacher or principal and would tell him heartwarming stories regarding the impact he had on their lives.
Keith was a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church and belonged to numerous education associations. He put his heart and soul into everything he became a part of throughout his entire life.
Memorials may be directed to the family.