Keith Lee Balvanz

Keith Lee Balvanz, 72 of Albion, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021at Southridge Rehab & Healthcare while under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice. Keith’s funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 30th at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Burial will be in the East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Eldora, IA. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be directed to Keith’s family for a later designation. For further information or to send Keith’s family a condolence, please visit mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/ . Born on January 5, 1949 in Eldora, Keith was the son of Lawrence and Fern (Hutzel) Balvanz. He grew up in Eldora and graduated from Eldora High School in 1968. On November 7, 1970, he was united in marriage with Gloria Fiscus, and to this union they were blessed with their one and only child, Kimberly Jean. In 1973, the couple moved to a small acreage in Albion, where he continued to drive tractors and work with horses; something he had done since he was a child. Keith raised and showed hounds and had just about every animal you can think of on his farm at one point in time. His true passion, however, was raising and working with his draft horses. He spent many hours outside farming with the horses, as well as working with dairy cows that his daughter Kim showed for 4H projects. One of the moments he was most proud of in his life was driving the old steam-fired pumper “Old Betsy” at the fireman’s convention, just as his father had done in 1953. His love of horses led him to participate in many parades, Antique Power Shows, Holiday Strolls, as well as weddings and funerals. Keith was employed at Fisher Controls for 37 years before his health forced him to retire. He then enjoyed his retirement by going to horse sales at Kalona, Aplington or Waverly. Keith was a very active member in his community. He was a member of the Albion Fire Department where he served as a fireman and fire chief for several years. He was also a member of the Albion Lions Club, and had served on the city council for several years as well as being mayor of the City of Albion for a period of time. He served on the Albion Library Board where he was president and was a main figure in the building of the new Library and Heritage Center. He officially became a grandfather for the first time in 1999, and then again in 2001 to his grandchildren Whitney and Wade. You could always find him at his grandkids’ activities: watching dance recitals, color guard performances, football games, basketball games, and many baseball games. Survivors include his daughter, Kim (Brett) Canaday; granddaughter, Whitney Canaday; grandson, Wade Canaday (Samantha Snyder); brother, Jerry Balvanz; sisters, Maxine Boomgarden and Darla Mabe as well as several nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents, Lawrence and Fern Balvanz; brother, Dennis in infancy; brother-in-law, Ralph Boomgarden and sister-in-law, Betty Balvanz.