Obituary of John P. Keene

Keene, John P. age 56 of Midland Park died Sunday, June 19, 2016. Born in Paterson, he lived in Lakeville, PA before moving to Midland Park 20 years ago. John worked for the Franklin Lakes DPW for 25 years. He was an avid Mets fan and fisherman. John followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Franklin Lakes Fire Department in March 1978. He rose through the officer ranks and served as Chief of the Department in 1998, 1999 and 2000. He was awarded life membership in the Franklin Lakes Fire Department as well as the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association. He was a Trustee of the Department and served as chairman of the Nominating and Building and Grounds Committees. His brother fireman will always remember how well he ran the annual summer clam bake. Surviving is his wife of 30 years, Jennie (nee Schaper) Keene of Midland Park, his parents, Wayne and Joan (nee Turner) Keene of Bluffton, SC, his children, Amy Pestano (Leo) of Mahwah, Jonathan Keene (Victoria) of Midland Park and Kaitlyn Keene (Adrian) of Midland Park. Also surviving are his four grandchildren, Jeremy, Ella, Mia and Scott, his brother, David Keene of Okatie, SC, his sister Beth Herrmann (Kurt) of Pembroke Pines, FL and his mother-in-law, Audrey Banta and several nieces and nephews. Visiting, Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave. Wyckoff, NJ. Funeral Service Thursday 10 am at Grace United Methodist Church, 555 Russell Ave. Wyckoff, NJ. Interment Redeemer Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ. In Lieu of flowers donations to the Franklin Lakes Fire Department, 480 De Korte Drive, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417 would be appreciated.