Deacon Michael Keable, 81, died Nov. 20 at the St. Cloud VA Hospital. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 30, in St. John’s Abbey Church in Collegeville, with Bishop Donald Kettler, presiding. Burial will follow in the St. John’s Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. in the church. Masks are required.
Deacon Keable was born in Little Fork, Minnesota, to Eugene and Alice (Solberg) Keable. He graduated from high school in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a Nike Hercules Missileman until he was discharged with a service-connected disability. He earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University in 1965 and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1969. He received his licensure for independent practice as a psychologist in 1975. He married Doreen Marie Tholl Aug. 20, 1966. They had two children.
Deacon Keable was appointed to the Minnesota State Board of Health in 1973 and to the State Health Advisory Council in 1977. He served as executive director of alumni affairs at St. Cloud State University; psychologist at Willmar Regional Treatment Center; hospice chaplain at St. Cloud Hospital; staff member at the St. Cloud V.A. Medical Center; and marriage and family psychologist at Caritas Family Services.
He was ordained a permanent deacon by Bishop George Speltz on June 2, 1978, and served St. Paul Church in St. Cloud until 2000. His last diaconate assignment was to St. John the Baptist, Collegeville. He was appointed director of the Permanent Diaconate Program for the Diocese of St. Cloud and served for 10 years until he retired on June 3, 2012.
Deacon Keable was a Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 961 and involved in St. Cloud Kiwanis Club, Great River Regional Library Board, Minnesota State Board of Health, SCSU Alumni Association, Stearns County Public Health Advisory Committee, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion Post 328 and volunteered in the kitchen at the Salvation Army.
He is survived by his children, Stephen and Allison (Carl) Driggins; grandchildren, Rachel, Aubrey, and CJ Driggins; and sister, Polly Dalby and her children, Lori Bartlett and Tim Dalby. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Doreen; and brother-in-law, Ray Dalby.
Pallbearers will be members of the diaconal community of the St. Cloud Diocese. In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to the Dr. Doreen Keable Scholarship Fund at St. Cloud State University, the Salvation Army of St. Cloud or to Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis.