We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Alfred Ian Keep, CD (Ret’d) of Redcliff, AB at age 61 as the result of a traffic crash on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Calgary AB on Monday 2 July 2018. Alfred served the Canadian Military Engineers for 32 years and retired from the Canadian Forces in 2009.
A native of Mount Albion, PEI, Alfie joined the Canadian Forces in Charlottetown, PEI in Sept 1977 and was posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (CER) upon completing his basic Combat Engineer training. While with 1 CER he completed his Parachute training and was soon posted to 2 CER Petawawa as a member of Jump Troop. While in 2 CER (1980 to 1985) Alfred was promoted to Corporal and completed his Combat Diver course. He was able to go on a few exchanges with the US Navy Seals in Coronado and in California as a Combat Diver during this tour. During this time frame, he was also fortunate to receive his US Navy Parachutist Wings. While with 2 CER, Alfred deployed to both Cyprus and to Kosovo.
Alfie was next posted to 4 CER in Germany for six years during which time he also managed to get his German Para wings. He returned to Canada with a posting to Range Maintenance in CFB Suffield, AB In 1991. A promotion to Master Corporal in 1998 resulted in a posting to 1 CER where he remained until 2004 when he was posted to Camp Wainwright as a Sergeant. Initially, In Charge of Accommodations, he was then transferred to Range Control where he retired in 2009.
Following his retirement Alfie returned to the Medicine Hat area and spent much of his retirement travelling. His travelling frequently took him to Texas where his wife owns and operates a resort. Alfie was a committed runner and frequent participant in marathons.
A viewing will be held at Saamis Memorial Funeral Chapel [#1 Dunmore Road SE, Medicine Hat AB ] 1400-1600 hrs on Mon, 9 Jul 2018. There will be a come and go in Alfie’s memory held at the Redcliff Royal Canadian Legion on Friday, 13 July 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial gifts in Alfie’s memory may be made to the Poppy Fund of the Royal Canadian Legion, 302 Broadway Avenue W, Redcliff, Alberta T0J 2P0, or to the Margery E Yuill Cancer Centre, 666 5th Street SW, Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4H6. Online condolences can be sent to the Funeral Home.
