Donald N McKeon Sr

USMC Colonel Retired

Former Battalion Commander

1966 - 1967

Obituary

Go in peace and remember you are not forgotten while I am still on patrol.

July 9th, 2018

It is with deep sadness that I report the news of the death of Col Don McKeon Sr. Col McKeon passed away on Saturday July 19th, 2016 at the age of 88. He will be greatly missed by his family & friends and all his Recon Buddies from the 1st Recon Battalion Association. We give thanks for Don's life. (Thanks to Don McKeon Jr for the email on Don's passing.)

Col. Donald N. McKeon Sr

The family of Donald N. McKeon

uploaded a photo

 

Donald N McKeon Sr

USMC Colonel Retired

Celebrating the life

1927 - 2016

Donald N McKeon Sr

RIP

USMC Colonel Retired

Donald N McKeon Sr

Donald N. McKeon of Berlin, NJ, a career Marine Corps infantry officer, died on July 19. Colonel McKeon was born in West New York, NJ, and grew up in nearby North Bergen. Toward the end of World War II, he enlisted in the US Navy at the age of seventeen and served as a fire controlman on the USS Macon. He graduated in 1950 from Manhattan College, was commissioned the same year as a Marine second lieutenant, and in 1951 married Elaine Ryan. Colonel McKeon was in the US military for twenty-eight years altogether. From 1951 to 1963, he served on Okinawa, at Quantico, and at Camp Lejeune and for three years at the Marine Corps recruiting station in Hartford, CT. In 1961, he led a company of Marines in President Kennedy's inauguration parade. From 1963 to 1966, he was an NROTC instructor at the College of the Holy Cross. In 1966 and 1967, he commanded the First Reconnaissance Battalion in Vietnam, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit with "V" for valor. In 1968, the Marine Corps sent him to the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, where he earned a master's degree. From 1969 to 1971, he served at the US Southern Command's headquarters in the Panama Canal Zone. He ended his Marine Corps career as head of the personnel procurement branch in 1974, when he received the Meritorious Service medal. He later was a JROTC instructor at West Deptford (NJ) High School for three years and served ten years in the personnel department of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. For most of his life, Colonel McKeon was a highly competitive athlete, enjoying handball, racquetball, basketball, golf, and—with his children, their friends, and later his grandchildren—stickball and touch football. He enjoyed sharing his dry Irish wit and was often accompanied by a dog. He is survived by Elaine, their five children (Don McKeon Jr. [Susan Cohen] of Arlington, VA; Susan Morris [Jake Morris] of The Villages, FL; Christina McKeon [Vince Salandra] of Haddon Heights, NJ; Lt. Col. Brian McKeon, USMC [Ret.], of Carlsbad, CA; and Kathleen Fecile [John Fecile] of Garnet Valley, PA), thirteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held on August 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Costantino Funeral Home, 231 W. White Horse Pike and Arlington Avenue, Berlin, NJ. Memorial service 4:00PM. Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. Donations may be made in his memory to the Michael Fecile Foundation, 3160 Woods Edge Drive, Garnet Valley, PA, or to Animal Welfare, 509 Centennial Boulevard, Voorhees, NJ. For additional information or to email lasting condolences: Costanti nofh.com.
Published in Courier-Post from July 31 to Aug. 2, 2016

Thank you for your service! Semper Fi.
 
Rudolf & Sarah Trejo

May 09, 2018 | Madisonville, TN | Friend

On behalf of the South Jersey Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA - formerly the Retired Officers Association "TROA"), I offer our condolences on the passing of COL McKeon, our President 1991-92. While I did not know Don personally, having retired in 1995 and not affiliating with the Chapter until about 2008, I wish to offer Elaine any assistance we might afford at this time of loss. Please know we are with you in thought & prayer at this time of sorrow.

Very Respectfully,

Robert J.Familetti
COL, USA, (Retired)

President, South Jersey Chapter MOAA
Cape May, NJ

I am so sorry for your loss and realize the huge void in your family for a man with such great achievements in his life. What an honor to have known him!
 
Linda Salandra August 01, 2016 | Philadelpia, PA

I am sad to learn of Mr McKeons passing. My Love, Hugs & Prayers are with you all at this difficult time. Fondly, Michele
Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are okay. Author Unknown
 
Michele Liscio

July 30, 2016 | FL | Friend

The Manhattan College alumni community shares the grief, and is now praying for our fellow alumni and the family at this time. The Alumni Office has been informed. As well as the Jasper Jottings community that I personally can reach. We are all a little poorer now. "No man is an island, entire of itself ... any mans death diminishes me". We are sorry for your loss.
 
fjohn reinke (mc1968)

July 27, 2016 | Keene, NH | Classmate

Elaine. I got a call from Berlin N. J. I'm sorry
 
Tom Vogel

October 01, 2016 | Jacksonville, FL

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