James Keating

James Basil Keating, beloved father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully with loved ones in Muskegon on March 25, 2026, at age 88. He was predeceased by his cherished wife Clare (Clara, née Mierendorf). He is survived by his children, James, Dominic (Shaista), Brett, and Christina, grandchildren Nicholas, David, Summer, Sophie, Abdullah, Lila, Asiya, Blake, and Amina, and siblings Jerome (the late Monika), Dennis (Sandy), the late Dorothy (Tim) Cullen, Noreen (Dan) D'Angelo, Gary (Lorin), Jean (Dave) Gaudreau, Patricia (Jim) LaMantia and Michael, and many other beloved family members.

He was born June 21, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois to James B. and Dorothy M. Keating (née Kettner). He participated in the Junior Bears, a Chicago parks children's tackle football program, and played during half time of a Chicago Bears game on Wrigley Field. He began his lifetime of public performance dressed as a lion at a Chicagoland Musical show at Soldier Field in front of 100,00 people. He attended Seminary and College at Notre Dame. Next, he received a master's degree in counseling from MSU where he met the love of his life, Clara R. Keating. Together they performed charity work through Project Peru, the first volunteer organization to go to South America from MSU. He loved to travel and visited 34 countries and most of the U.S. states. He trained as an advanced trainer with Jack Canfield, taught and counseled students at every level of education, elementary to college and beyond, including the Mount Pleasant Chippewa Job Training Program, Nazareth College, and Climax-Scotts schools. Jim belonged to Unity Church, in Kalamazoo and then Muskegon. He performed with three different Irish folk groups, finally forming "Finnegan" himself. He also sang in the Community Connects Gospel Choir, was a founding member of Kalamazoo Le' Winemakers club, member of Irish American clubs of Muskegon and Kalamazoo, and volunteer Frauenthal Theater usher. After retiring from public education, he conducted workshops on relationships and reproductive health education and became a family therapist with Choices for Change, Kalamazoo. He was well known for his award-winning photography--often featuring loved ones--seen in the Kalamazoo Gazette, Parade magazine, and Kodak books of photography.

He brought joy to those around him through his friendship, laughter, music, photographic art, and spirituality. He will be remembered for his kindness, gentleness, generosity, empathy, loyalty, and dedication to his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, 8/1, at the Freuenthal Theater, 425 W. Western Ave, Ste 200, Muskegon, MI 49440. A reception will follow at the same location. MEMORIALS: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Unity Church of Muskegon. Please feel free to sign the online guest book at Mlive.com.