At the young age of 28, John Patrick Keimig went home to be with the Lord on June 14, 2018. With his beloved family holding his hands, John passed away peacefully at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On May 29, 1990, John was born to Steven and Wendy (Senftner) Keimig. His sisters, Tamara and Candice, were surprised but excited to have a baby brother. Growing up in Prior Lake, and attending Prior Lake High School, John had a passion for sports and spent his time playing basketball, baseball and football. His love for football was unmatched, and even when he could not participate in the games due to illness, he played an essential role as the High School team manager.
John and his father shared a special bond over their love of football, and they participated in countless fantasy football leagues over the years. John had an intense love for both the Baltimore Raven’s and Minnesota Vikings and one of John’s favorite moments was when the Raven’s won the Super Bowl in 2012 (yes, there were tears of joy).
An intelligent man, John graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Kinesiology before starting his doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The physical therapists he encountered through his own treatments drove him to pursue medicine, so he could help others the way he was helped. He enjoyed living in Chicago, meeting new friends and learning more about medicine.
When John wasn’t studying, he was working out at the gym, playing sand volleyball or video games. But more than anything, he loved making people laugh. He had a great sense of humor and quick wit. He loved attending stand-up comedy and participated in a few stand-up comedy sessions himself. He loved making people laugh, whether on stage or just with a group of friends. John was not shy and enjoyed deep conversation with others and had a special gift to emotionally connect with people.
One of his favorite places in the world was the family cabin in the Black Hills. Every year, he and his family drove the 10-12 hour trek to South Dakota where they went hiking, four wheeling and played games.
In 2006, John was diagnosed with osteosarcoma and spent 13 years going through countless treatment regiments, even traveling as far as D.C. and LA for the latest clinical trials. Most importantly, John never gave up. More than anything, he wanted to live. No matter how much pain he was in, he was willing to try anything to stay on earth with his loved ones and make the world a better place. John was always positive and worried more about his family than himself.
Through the good and bad times, John found great comfort and support from his beloved family and devoted friends. His mother cared for him for years and became one of his closest friends. John also was blessed with the ultimate compassion, care and love of a soul mate, Kali Dingman. Meeting in college, they spent six years being each other’s best friend. They loved going for walks, talking for hours on the phone, and being silly with each other (there were numerous inside jokes and they vowed to never grow up.) They complimented each other perfectly and looked forward to building a future together as a family.
Most important to John was his faith in God and Jesus Christ. John had a close relationship with Jesus and was a great faithful servant of God. This strong faith allowed John not to be afraid when God called him home.
John’s favorite quote was from Lord of The Rings where Samwise Gamgee gives Frodo a pep talk just when times seem the most dark. It ends, “There’s still some good left in this world Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for.” John lived this quote through and through.
John will be forever loved and missed by parents, Steve and Wendy; sisters, Tamara (Shannon) Morsching and their children Kian, Niah; Candice (fiancé James Penfield) Keimig; girlfriend and soulmate, Kali Dingman; grandparents, Jeanne Senftner, John and Clary Keimig; many other relatives and friends.
There to greet John home in heaven was his beloved grandpa, Patrick Senftner.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, June 21 at 2 pm, with a time of gathering starting at 11:30 am, all at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16311 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake, MN. Father Tom Walker will preside, with cousins, Anthony Schlader, Andrew Schlader, Aaron Schlader and longtime childhood friend, Nate Wright, acting as urn bearers. John will be laid to rest at a private family burial at St Michael Catholic Cemetery.
