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Fr. William McKeon, a former assistant pastor at St. Joseph Church in St. Johns, died last week at the age of 75. Fr. McKeon served here from 1962-64, a golden age of building and renewal under the administration of Bishop Joseph Green. His first love was working with the local Hispanic migrant workers, but his quick wit and erudition earned him many friends throughout the community.
Before he became a priest in 1957, Fr. McKeon had been a commissioned officer in the US Navy and served as a Japanese translator during World War II. After the war he graduated from the University of Wisconsin and studied law at Georgetown University before entering the Catholic seminary.
Just before coming to St. Johns, Fr. McKeon had undergone a life-changing experience when he served on the staff of Papal Volunteers in Curunavaca, Mexico. It was there that he learned to love the Hispanic people. It was rumored around St. Johns that Fr. Bill would spend time in Mexico or Puerto Rico, give away all of his money, and then have to return to the Diocese of Lansing to pay off his debts.
In the late '60s and early '70s Fr. McKeon became the founding pastor of Lansing's Cristo Rey Community. He later served parishes in Hillsdale, Grand Blanc, and the Irish Hills.
When he was about 60, at a time when some people are thinking of slowing down, Fr. McKeon embarked upon a new adventure. One day he asked his bishop for a leave of absence so that he could enter Guest House, a treatment program for alcoholic priests and religious. His personal recovery led him to become an untiring advocate for others. He first went to Chicago and then returned to serve on the Diocesan Council on Alcoholism for 7 years.
At the time of his death Fr. McKeon, who had moved north to retire, was serving as the pastor of two small parishes in East Jordon and Antrim County. He is survived by his brothers, Donavan of Flint and Fr. Robert McKeon of Byron and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Leo, in 1998. He is buried in St. Joseph Calvary Cemetery in East Jordon.
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