Keith Magness

Wayne Keith Magness, age 84, of Mars, Pa, died peacefully at home and surrounded by family on Friday, September 20, after a two-year battle with a rare pulmonary disease. He was married to Donna (Troup) for 64 years, the beauty he first met in 7th grade at New Bethlehem High School in New Bethlehem, Pa.

To his four children, Keith was a constant source of patience, wisdom, and memorable one-liners.  His singular delight was his family, and Keith’s satisfaction was always conspicuous when he was amidst his children and grandchildren. The non-negotiables of being together were storytelling and laughing uncontrollably. Keith walked his three daughters and one granddaughter down the aisle at their weddings and served as the best man at his only son’s wedding.

We can scarcely comprehend the notion of not having this remarkable man in our lives. His gift for holding up his end of a memorable conversation cannot be overstated. Keith’s enthusiasm for knowledge spanned an impressive number of topics: Informal conversations about bluegrass music or Johnny Cash, hockey games/scores/players, Civil War and World War II history, the best wood types for carpentry (basswood for stains & finishes and walnut for grain & color), the state turnpike system, and classic cars left people feeling like they had received a complimentary master class from Keith.

He practiced what he preached as evidenced by the 1950 Dodge Coronet that served as his first car as well as the 1964 Ford Galaxy 500, acquired later in life when Keith accepted the maroon classic as substitute compensation from a customer unable to fully pay for his new in-ground pool. Keith was also a lifelong Penguins hockey fan, attending games with his daughter and grandkids as a 31-year season ticket holder.

Keith received his master’s degree in Education and an accompanying certification in Industrial Arts. His post-graduate career started immediately with the Mars Area School District and also culminated there when he retired from Mars Middle School 39 years later. Best estimates calculate the number of students who took Mr. Magness’ woodshop class as exceeding 8,000 over his career. He taught generations of students (including his four children and one granddaughter) to skillfully design and build their own step stools, wall shelves, popsicle stick lamps, bird feeders, and wooden peg board games. Time in Mr. Magness’ classroom also conveyed life lessons about the value of listening, teamwork, courtesy, and taking care of your tools. While teaching, Keith served as President of the Mars Area Education Association for approximately a decade, negotiating on behalf of the teacher’s union and advocating for educational excellence.

When school was not in session, Keith parlayed his carpentry expertise into a successful career as a summer subcontractor for Pool King, designing, building, and installing in-ground pools and decks. He outfitted his own home with a beloved outdoor retreat that has served as a family destination for decades of birthday parties, graduation celebrations, potluck picnics, and the always-competitive water balloon toss.

Keith took to retirement in fine fashion, traveling with his wife throughout the United States in his 40-foot motorhome. The annual family pilgrimage to Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, spanned 29 years. It was a delight to see a man who was in perpetual motion take time to relax on the Atlantic shoreline, claim championship status at the campground Bingo games, and spend hours steering a golf cart to survey rows and rows of other motor homes.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Betty, and his brothers, Mike and Tim.

Keith is survived by his wife, Donna, his four children, Kathy (Fred) Bratchie, Deb (John) Lantz, Patti (Randy) Massa, and Brian (Stacie) as well as his seven beloved grandchildren, Justin Thomas, Jamie Lynn, Sarah Jo, Olivia Marie, Daniel Louis, Claire Elizabeth, and Molly Katherine. The family is also blessed with two great grandchildren, Adam Charles and Maggie Lynn. Also survived by a brother, Richard (Dolly) Magness, two sisters-in-law, Diane and Sally Magness and nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the McDonald-Aeberli Funeral Home, Inc. 238 Crowe Ave. Mars, PA on Tuesday, September 24, from 2 – 4 p.m. and 6 – 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, September 25, at 11:00 AM at the funeral Home. Burial will be in Mars Cemetery, Adams Twp. The family requests that anyone wishing to honor Keith make a donation to Bridges Hospice in lieu of flowers. Gifts can be made at www.bridgeshospice.org/donate. Directions and condolences are available at www.mcdonald-aeberli.com.