Dan graduated from LHHS in Dallas, got a degree in RTF at UT, married Debbie, had five kids, joined the Navy, flew in planes, went to war, went crazy, came home and found his lost self in running. He became a runner, then a marathon runner, then a trail runner, then a trail marathon runner. He ran the Moto Marathon, the Pikes Peak Marathon, Barton Creek at least a million times, and ultimately ran the Machu Pichu trail in Peru.
First and foremost, Dan was a military man. He believed that his country came first, and he served with honor and pride. From his aspirations in flight school, through his final tour in Qatar, he believed he could make a difference. As an outspoken Navy Intelligence Officer, he always fought to win for his country and his men. He was never afraid to say what he thought or push for what was right.
As a family man, Dan loved his children deeply. During the worst times of his life, they kept him from losing himself completely. Near the end, the thing he missed most was the ability to hug them.
Through his running he developed the most amazing friendships I have ever seen. Bound together by the sheer will and determination it takes to run such stupid distances in conditions not suitable for outdoor animals, these friends have stood by him through the best and the worst.
He had been with Freescale Semiconductor for almost 17 years. Throughout his years at FSL, you could always count on Dan for a laugh, a sharp wit and strong opinion. His creative spirit could always be seen and felt in the Oak Hill office area.
Dan was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, in August of 2009. This is a serious, degenerative disease. The Hokahey Run was put on by Freescale in October of 2009 to help Dan with the high cost of this disease. “Hokahey” is an Indian expression used as a battle cry, something like, “let’s do it!” in Sioux. For Dan it was an expression of power, a way of taking things head-on, no excuses. The run was an amazing success, a reminder of the importance of the company you work for and the community you live in and an affirmation of the power of family and friends.
His way was always a quest for truth and he was intensely spiritual. Dan believed in a higher power with many forms... he prayed with his preacher, healed with his witch doctor and sought deep truths with his shaman. It is also true that he was a strong advocate of “free and open intellectual debate with supermodels.”
Survived by: Rod and Millie Keitz (father and mother), Karen Dunlap (sis), Diane Beardsley (sis), Doug Keitz (bro), Debbie Sparks (his amazing ex-wife) Keith, Kristen, Kendal, Katie and Keaten (children), his many nieces and nephews including Cory, Jamey and Alex Keitz.
Date of Service: Friday Nov 5, 2010, 6:00 p.m. Painted Horse Pavillion, 1750 S. FM 1626, Buda, TX 78610-9444. Party to follow.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to the ALS Association, South Texas chapter at www.ALSASOTX.org.
