Keith M. Miser, age 78, passed away on Monday, October 28, in Bloomington, Ind. A celebration of life will take place1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at the Indiana University Memorial Union, Presidents’ Room, University Club.
Born in Waterloo, Ind., Keith was the first child of Mural and Carlton Miser, followed by two younger brothers, Kent and Kevin, both of whom preceded him in death. Encouraged by his high school band director, he attended Indiana University, Bloomington, eventually leaving IU with a bachelor’s degree in biology, a master’s degree in guidance and counseling, and a doctoral degree in higher education and student affairs.
He taught 7-12 grade science three years at Wanatah High School in northwestern Indiana, and in 1971 began a career in higher education and student affairs that spanned more than 40 years. Keith mentored hundreds of students in the course of his long career as a Dean of Students, Vice President for Student affairs, and Associate Professor within three universities–University of Vermont, Colorado State University, and University of Hawaii at Hilo. In addition, he helped reorganize, along with several colleagues, the country of Belize’s tertiary educational system, an effort which ended in the founding of a new University of Belize and a pathway to higher education for numerous Belizean students and faculty.
In 1972 Keith married Ann Buchanan from Greenwood, Ind., and in the process inherited seven in-laws, 13 nieces and nephews, and six adorable great nieces and nephews, all Buchanans of some sort or other. They all miss him dearly.
Keith loved equally music, art, gardening, traveling, and reading. His love of music and art was stimulated by Indiana University where he played in the Marching Hundred and the Symphonic Orchestra and founded a jazz band called “The Sauerkrauts.” His gardens bloomed large and robust; his traveling took him to Africa, Asia, Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, Canada, Puerto Rico, and across the U.S. He and Ann joined the Bloomington Worldwide Friendship group and hosted many international students over several years. They both volunteered at the Teachers Warehouse, a project of the Bloomington Rotary, where he met many new friends and dived into several other volunteer projects. Keith treasured his time with them all.
Across this nation and several countries Keith inspired future leaders, many of whom experienced at least one giant meal at Keith and Ann’s house, wherever they lived. Some even moved in with them. Keith and Ann worked always as a team, loving, feeding, encouraging, scolding, laughing, and crying with their “expanded” family. Keith believed that he had been eternally blessed with the life he lived, surrounded by Ann, his family, and so many students and colleagues. He loved, admired, and respected them all.
In lieu of flowers, you may honor Keith’s memory with a donation to some organization you value that helps students flourish and become leaders of the world.
