Bulls

 Keith’s Funeral will be held on Friday November 11, 2016 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Lethbridge East Stake Center, 4105 Forestry Avenue, Lethbridge at 1:00 p.m.

Keith Jorgensen played a very big role in just about everything baseball in Lethbridge. He played, coached, was a board member, supported, and volunteered for everything from Little League to American Legion, from Prairie Baseball Academy to the Lethbridge Bulls. On Thursday November 3^rd, the baseball world received the very tragic news of Keith’s passing. Keith was extremely involved when it came to the Prairie Baseball Academy and the Lethbridge Bulls. Keith was one of the founding members of PBA in 1995. Keith was a long-standing board member, a tireless fundraiser and was always around to help out on opening day or in the concession during home games. He spent a lot of his time at the ballpark and with those organizations. Over the past few years Keith has also had a very big part in helping to organize and run the PBA Caddie Classic Golf Tournament. 14 years ago Keith became a shareholder with the Lethbridge Bulls and a board member of the WMBL, the league that the Bulls play in. He remained with the WMBL for 7 years. During the summers you could expect to find Keith either at the ballpark or on the golf course.

“Keith will be greatly missed at Lloyd Nolan Yard and Spitz Stadium. He was someone who could be counted on to help in any capacity. More importantly, his baseball passion and friendship will be missed the most,” said Bulls President and Under the Lights Sports and Entertainment CEO Kevin Kvame. 

Obituary 

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Keith Jorgensen of Coaldale, beloved husband of Beverley. Keith passed away in Lethbridge after a courageous battle with lymphoma on November 3, 2016 at the age of 70 years. Keith was born in Lethbridge, Alberta to Joyce and Edward Jorgensen January 10, 1946 and was raised on the family farm in the Iron Springs district. He attended Huntsville School in Iron Springs until he and his classmates transferred and graduated at Picture Butte High School in 1964. Keith attended Lethbridge Junior College for two years and completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Calgary. After graduation Keith taught mathematics at R.I. Baker Junior High School for 17 years and then transfer to Picture Butte High school for seven years where he taught mathematics and physics. He completed his teaching career as a career counselor at Kate Andrew High School in Coaldale in 2001. Keith met Beverley while attending Lethbridge Junior college and they just celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past September. Keith and Beverley lived in Calgary the first two years after they were married and then they moved to Coaldale when he was offerd a teaching position in 1968. Keith was an active volunteer in Coaldale and Southern Alberta with many organizations and had a loving commitment with his children. He was the scout master for Coaldale First Boy Scouts of Canada. He was an active ATA member and served as President of Local 21 in 1982-83. Keith may best be remembered as a football and basketball official. He made many life time friends and thoroughly enjoyed this time and cherished many fond memories of travelling to many parts of Canada to referee from junior high to the university level. Keith served as secretary, treasure, president and commissioner in both the SABOA and SAFOA for many years. As a teacher he coached, volleyball and soccer and baseball but Keith‘s first love was baseball. He played as a youngster and just wanted to share his enthusiasm of the sport with others. He coached at every level of Little League and at KAHS. He served as an executive member for the Southern Alberta High School Baseball League, Lethbridge American Legion Baseball, was District Administrator for Montana American Legion Baseball for eight years and as a Board member of WMBL for seven years. When the opportunity presented itself to become one of the founding members of Prairie Baseball Academy he was over joyed. The highlight for Keith was seeing Lloyd Nolan Yard become a reality in 1997. This organization brought much happiness to Keith’s life.

It was of great delight for him to see young men from all across Canada come to PBA not only hone their skills in baseball but also complete their academic studies at either Lethbridge Community College or the University of Lethbridge. Keith also loved the collegiate summer baseball program. For the last 14 years Keith has dedicated his summers to the WMBL and he took great pride in the Bulls Baseball team as a shareholder.

Keith enjoyed the game of golf and was a member at Land-O-Lakes from the first day it opened. Since his retirement from teaching he enjoyed travelling to many golf courses with his golf buddies in the summer and was off to Arizona in the winter to golf with his many old and new golf friends there. Each autumn he looked forward to hunting pheasant and partridge and was always excited to be out in the cool crisp air with his hunting friends and his dog, Duke. Keith so liked to visit and looked forward to meeting with his friends from elementary school with a fun evening of dinner and reminiscing each November for the past five years. Keith liked to garden and lovingly planted, hoed and harvested his vegetables with great care and pride. It was here that he felt peace and calm from his busy and active daily life. Keith loved his neighbors, enjoyed his over the fence conversations and perhaps in today’s world it would be hard to find a parallel in that Jake and Verdell Andres have lived next door for forty plus years.

Keith received recognition as a Queen Scout from the Canadian Boy Scouts of Canada 1962; a Canadian Olympic Medal Winner for Outstanding Contributions to Amateur Sport 1992, Town of Coaldale Appreciation for Volunteer Service to the Police Commission 1991-1994; Investors Group Community Sport Achievement Award 1992; Lethbridge Sports Hall of Fame Special Award 1997; Canadian Association of Basketball Officials J. A. “Wink” Willox Award of Merit 2003; SAFOA Ivor Carleton Memorial Dedicated Builder Award 2008; Town of Coaldale Citizen of the Year 2010. Above all else Keith’s greatest pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. Keith had great fun teasing and loving each one. He was indeed proud of their many accomplishments and always challenged each of them to become the best they could be, to be honest and fair, to respect and to love one another.

Keith is survived by his wife Beverley; children: Jodi and Ross Harker of Raymond, Alberta; Trevor and Marda Jorgensen of Phoenix, Arizona; Marnie and Richard Flores of New Albany, Ohio, and seven wonderful grandchildren: Hilary Harker, Claire Harker, Benton Harker, Maren Jorgensen, Nigel Flores, Poppy Flores and Lavender Flores. He is also survived by two sisters Jerri (John) Bolton of Lethbridge and Heather (Doug) Speelman of Coaldale and three sisters-in-law, Jean (Will) Martens of Coaldale, Sarah M. Reyes of Mission City, BC, and Bonnie Brown of Olds as well many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, Joyce Alberta and James Edward Jorgensen and his grandparents, Erwin P. and Clara L. Kane and Jens Nikolai and Christiane Jorgensen.

Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family at Salmon and Sons Funeral Home, 433 Stubb Ross Road South, Lethbridge on Thursday, November 10 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. or prior to the funeral service on Friday from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at the church.
The funeral Service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Lethbridge East Stake Center, 4105 Forestry Avenue, Lethbridge, on November 11, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.