Douglas Carlyle Keister, age 86 of Hudson, WI, formerly of Pine River, MN, passed away October 20, 2013 at the Christian Community Home of Hudson. Douglas was born October 14, 1927 in Minneapolis, MN; the son of Malcom E. and Edna (Boyum) Keister. Doug was raised in Thompson, IA, where his family owned and operated the Keister Cafe. Doug graduated from Thompson High School; the class of 1945. After high school, Doug enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served our country during WWII. After the war, Doug furthered his education at Miller Vocational High School in Minneapolis to obtain a certificate of completion as a chef. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) at Cornel University in 1954, and his Masters in HRM in 1956. Doug was united in marriage on March 17, 1954 to Helen Joanne “Billie” Hosey. Their marriage would be blessed with two children, Lisa and Todd. Douglas completed his PhD in HRM from Michigan State in 1965.

Douglas was an instructor at the School of Hotel and Restaurant Management at Michigan State University from 1956 until 1965. Doug and his family then moved to Denver, CO where Doug was a full professor, and later the Director of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Denver from 1965 until 1978. Doug worked with and was elected to the Board of Directors of the Brock Hotel Corporation from 1977 to 1984. During this time, Doug was Senior Professor, as well as filled the position as Acting Dean for one year at Conrad N Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management at the University of Houston until his retirement in 1993.

While working in the Hotel and Restaurant Industry, Doug served on several boards, committees, wrote many books and articles and was honored with several distinguished awards. He was on one of thirteen individuals to have received the Certified Hotel Administrator Emeritus Award from the Educational Institute of the American Hotel and Motel Association. In 1973 he became a Fulbright Scholar and was invited to teach at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark.

In 1993 Douglas retired to care for his wife “Billie,” when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, and cared for her until her death on August 18 1994. Doug then moved to Pine River, MN. In 1998 he married E. Lorraine (Olson) Darnauer, an old friend from Thompson. During his retirement, Doug enjoyed boating, fishing, playing cribbage and traveling with his wife.

Doug will remain in the hearts of his wife, Lorraine; his children, Lisa Keister, and Todd (Jill) Keister; step-children: Timothy (Cathie) Darnauer, Ruth Dyhr, Luke (Carol) Darnauer, Erica (Raleigh) Pickard, Hope (Neal) Kurtz and Toni Darnauer; grandchildren, Vipasha Keister, Edward Keister, and Sarah (Justin) Larsen; 18 step-grandchildren; great-grandson Oaklee Larsen; 15 great-grandchildren; and sister, Sharon (Larry) Morin. He was preceded in death by his first wife, “Billie”; older sister, Helen Johnson; younger brother, Clifford “Ole”; step-sons, Stephen and Peter Darnauer; and his parents.

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 AM Thursday, October 24, 2013 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, with a Gathering of Family and Friends one hour prior to the service. A luncheon reception will immediately follow the services. Private interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Douglas C. Keister Scholarship Fund, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston. Funeral services are entrusted to the O’Connell Family Funeral Home of Hudson (715) 386-3725.