Keith Milton Gelbrich

            With great sadness we say goodbye for now to Keith Gelbrich who died on March 6, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona, just short of his 78th birthday.

            Keith was born in Bend, Oregon on March 19, 1947, to Louis Gelbrich and Mildred (Slate) Gelbrich, and joined his brother, Larry, born 2½ years earlier. They then lived in Burns, Oregon for a short time before Keith’s dad was called back into military service and tragically died in a military plane crash in Lubbock, Texas when Keith was 4. The family returned to Bend where Keith lived until high school graduation in 1965.

            Keith served in the Army, was stationed in Ft. Huachuca and Vietnam, then graduated from The University of Oregon, becoming an elementary school teacher, first in Nunivak Island, Alaska, and then in Eugene, Oregon, with the majority of time teaching 4th and 5th grades at Irving Elementary. He married Judith Hare in Bend in 1971 and became parents of Kevin, born in 1980. The young family skied when Kevin was young, he fished, bowled, and Keith assisted in coaching basketball, football and tee ball, was a softball umpire, and years later he refereed youth football.

            After his marriage ended, he reconnected with a classmate from Bend, Linda (Mirich) Williamson, at a high school class reunion. They were married in Corvallis, Oregon on August 11, 2001. Even though they continued to live in Corvallis, Keith remained a dedicated Oregon Duck fan, missing only two home football games in more than 40 years. In addition to following the Ducks, Keith thrived on decades of running, completing dozens of marathons and half-marathons, as well as 10 Ks and

5 Ks.

            Keith began nature photography in his sixties, sold prints, and many of his photos were featured on notecards his wife created and sells. He drove a bus for seniors, and enjoyed relaxing in Bend, traveling to the coast and to Arizona.  He loved sitting on the deck at home or anywhere he could watch wildlife and enjoy the scenery. Keith’s circle of friends included those from high school, teaching, running, golfing, and church. One of many highlights in his last year was participating in a Veteran’s Honor Flight to Washington D.C that he took with his brother, Larry.

            Keith loved his family and cherished being a dad, and Papa Keith or Poppy, to his four grandchildren, Harper, Peyton, James, and Gillian.

            Keith is survived by his wife, Linda; son Kevin (Courtney); stepdaughter Gina (Scott); a brother, Larry (Jean); and four grandchildren, three aunts, a niece, a nephew, their children, many cousins and other relatives.

            All are most welcome to attend his memorial service on Saturday, June 28th, at 1 p.m., at the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan in Corvallis, Oregon (NW 35th and Harrison Street).

            In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the South Willamette Honor Flight, St Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the Shriners, The Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan (Corvallis), or a charity of your choice that supports children’s health and wellbeing, or efforts for peace.

           (In addition to the tremendous support from friends, family, and church family in Corvallis, Oregon, Keith's wife is so grateful for the compassionate outreach from others in Tucson, especially from Fr. Steve and from Deacon Nancy at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church.)