HAPPENINGS
Long-time Member Vivienne M. Keeven Passes Vivienne M. Keeven (nee Strunk), of Moscow Mills, Missouri, passed away on Sunday, July 3, 2022, at the age of 91. Beloved wife of the late Edwin B. Keeven, Sr.; loving daughter of the late George and Vivien (nee Anderson) Strunk; devoted mother of Vivian S. (the late Wayne)
Prinster, Barbara (James) Foster, Edwin “Eddie” (Kathy) Keeven Jr., Judy (Steve) Schneider, the late Tom (Dana) Keeven, Marty (Pam) Keeven, Jeanne (Ed) Idziak, and Jim (Kathy) Keeven; cherished grandmother of 23; treasured great-grandmother, “GiGi” of 48; dear sister of Aileen (the late Bob) Derhake, Gordon (the late Iris) Strunk, and Carole (Jim) Farmer. She was also preceded in death by her two brothers, George “Bud” Strunk, and Marvin Strunk. Vivienne was a loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews and a friend to many.
Vivienne was a woman of faith and belonged to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Troy, Missouri, where she was a member of the Ladies Sodality. She was also a charter member of TPI (Turfgrass Producers International) and a lifetime member of Ducks Unlimited. Vivienne worked with her late husband, Ed, in their turfgrass business for 33 years. Alongside Ed, she travelled, especially to Florida, and went hunting, fishing, and golfing, just to name a few of the activities they enjoyed together. Vivienne had a passion for biology and the outdoors. She was an avid gardener and loved cooking meals for her family. She was known for her potato cakes and her wild duck at Tanksgiving dinners. More than anything, Vivienne was devoted to her family. Vivienne was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Evening visitation was held at Baue Funeral Home in Baue Cave Springs, MO, on July 13, and prior to the Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Troy, MO, on July 14. Memorials may be made in Vivienne's name to St Vincent De Paul Sacred Heart Church in Troy, Missouri.
Vivienne’s husband, Edwin B. Keeven, Sr., passed away on July 27, 2013, at the age of 86. Noted in his obituary, “His favorite past times were hunting and fishing, but his passions were truly God and his family.”
Te Keeven family’s turfgrass business began in 1951, when Edwin (Ed Sr.) and Vivienne Keeven started installing sod in Florissant, MO, as Ed Keeven Sod, Co., Inc. As the business grew, the Keevens decided to become growers as well. In 1963, Ed and Viv moved to O’Fallon, MO, and started a 120-acre turfgrass farm.
Typical of sod farming families, the kids worked in the fields during the summer and in the mornings and evenings during the school year. Tus, Ed and Viv were not only great role models, setting high standards as parents, but also excellent teachers and mentors.
70
Te TPI connection has deep roots for the Keeven family, going back to the formation of the Association. Ed and Viv were smart and forward-thinking businesspeople, always open to new ideas and developing strong networking connections. Tus, Ed Keeven Sod Co., Inc., O’Fallon, Missouri, is listed among the American Sod Producers Association Charter Members in the ASPA Archives, dated March 27, 1968. (ASPA was renamed Turfgrass Producers International in 1994). Te couple attended many meetings over the years, making life-long relationships. And, of course, their family came with them, forging their own connections that would later grow to leadership roles within the association.
By 1973, Ed Keeven Sod, Co., Inc., had grown to nearly 400 acres. Ed and Viv dissolved the installation business to commit solely to growing and selling top quality turfgrass. In 1984, the three brothers that had joined the family business and invested into it—Eddie, Tommy, and Jim—bought the turfgrass farm from their parents, operating as Emerald View Turf Farms.
As the second generation, the three brothers worked together as one company for 27 years, growing the business to over 1,500 acres in three locations. As the third generation became more involved, the brothers decided to divide the business to make room for them. Tough each brother had their own location and were running their farms pretty much by themselves, there were multiple legal and financial details to consider. Tey made the division in 2011, compromising throughout the process, to “divide the company and not divide the family.” Tose companies and family ties remain strong as ever, throughout economic and environmental challenges, and the loss of Tommy to cancer in September of 2020.
Te families’ involvement in TPI has remained strong as well. Jim is the third Keeven brother to serve as TPI President. Tom served in 2001-2002 and Ed, Jr. (Eddie) served in 2014-2015. From the Keeven family to the TPI family, “Te outreach to our family was exceptional, a tribute to the many people that Mom and Dad touched during their lives, and an outpouring of support and love that touched our hearts. Words don’t begin to express how much
it meant to us during this time.”
Te three TPI Keeven Brothers pose with their mother at TPI’s celebration of 50 years, in Tampa. L-R: Jim, Eddie, Vivienne, and Tom Keeven.
TPI Turf News September/October 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
