Walt_keener_memorium

Walter J. Keener, Jr.
1952-2006

Walt Keener, former President and good friend to every member of the MMSI, passed away
suddenly on December 29th, 2006 at age 54. His life was a manifestation of everything that
unites the diverse folks that comprise the MMSI. He had comprehensive knowledge of all the
things that interest us: uniforms, figures, reenacting, grand strategy, battlefield tactics,
equipment, and vehicles. The breadth and depth of Walt's knowledge never failed to impress.
He was an expert on every aspect of history, particularly military history. He knew it all, and,
here's the thing that was so special about Walt, he shared what he knew with everybody that
he met. Generosity is not a strong enough word to convey how sharing Walt was. If you just
met him for the first time and casually asked a question, Walt would always take the time to
fully and thoroughly respond, bestowing attention and information on you as if you were his
bosom pal for twenty years. Similarly, Walt was the same with those of us in the MMSI. He was
a frequent presenter at meetings; he was always ready with a helpful anecdote to support
another presenter; he always brought relevant figures, books, and militaria to share. If
information is the currency of today, Walt was a truly rich man.

Within the greater fraternity of our hobby others might match Walt's knowledge about some
single interest perhaps a uniform or a battle. However nowhere in the World could be found an
expert as knowledgeable about military miniatures and toy soldiers as Walt. On these topics he
was virtually a walking encyclopedia. His knowledge encompassing every manufacturer of
every period since the invention of the mold; the figure did not exist that Walt couldn't identify.
Walt's interest in figures manifested itself literally in a "hands on" manner: Walt collected molds
and cast figures for fun, (if not necessarily for profit).

Reflecting his professional museum curator training Walt was an inveterate collector of just
about everything. Books, militaria, ephemera, nothing eluded his acquisitive drive. Walt
collected figures of every kind and sort. And his appreciation of the craft of making figures
knew no bounds. Whether tools for war gamers or as examples of American folk art, Walt
understood the intrinsic value of every figure he ever saw, regardless of pedigree or
completeness. Only Walt could examine an old, clunky dimestore figure, missing its tin helmet,
its rifle snapped off, balancing precariously on one leg, most paint long gone, and proclaim
"that's not a bad little figure!" This would not be an example of his gentle and big heart. Rather,
Walt uniquely saw everything that that figure represented: the historical roots the designer
drew upon, the skill of the sculptor, the intricacies of the manufacturing process, even the joy
that some kid felt using the figure in a battle played out on a living room floor.

Walt's interest in history coupled with his fascination of all things old combined to steer him into
museum work. Walt currently served as curator at the Joliet Historical Museum. Previously he
had worked at Old Fort Wayne in downtown Detroit, the Chicago Historical Society and at
Cantigny in Winfield, Illinois. No place was better suited for Walt than a museum. In a cramped
office littered with the relics of the past Walt was in his element. But museums are not just
about the detritus of the past; they are about people today. And it was with people that Walt
truly excelled. Walt never failed to make a friend wherever he went. In fact Walt collected
friends much as he collected everything else. Museum work brought donors, benefactors,
fellow staff, and visitors into frequent contact with him. Walt made friends of them all. In fact if
you would like to show your appreciation of Walt a fund has been created at the Joliet History
Museum where a donation in his memory will be greatly appreciated and used to acquire some
special item to enhance the collection, ¬something Walt would have acknowledged with a wink
and a smile.

Walt was unparalleled in integrating his knowledge with his kindheartedness. He would spend
hours with an elderly widow who was donating her husband's WWII uniforms. Walt would make
her feel special; not just by being nice, but by demonstrating that he understood the importance
of every detail of those uniforms, and he could explain every aspect of their significance. Walt
could do the same for donated items from just about any other period in history. That's a body
of knowledge that is irreplaceable. With his departure from this mortal coil a unique mold was
broken. There will not ever be another man like Walt in our organization, in the fraternity of
military history enthusiasts or in our lives.

Marc Gaynes

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