Obituary of James-F. Keegan

James F. Keegan HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - James F. Keegan, 86, formerly of the White Horse section of Hamilton Township, died on Sunday, his 86th birthday, in West Palm Beach, FL. Born in Trenton, Jim resided most of his life in Hamilton Township before moving to Florida nearly two years ago. Jim was a proud member of Hamilton High School Class of 1942. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Jim joined the Hamilton Township Police Force in 1947 and retired in 1988 as deputy chief. He was a former member of St. Raphael's R.C. Church and the Holy Name Society. Jim was a member and former vice-president and president of the Hamilton Township Fraternal Order of Police 20 and a member of the Hamilton Township P.B.A. 66. Among many other citations during his career, he was honored with the "Outstanding Law Officer of the Year" award for 1973-74 by the Hamilton Township Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3525. He was a self-taught classical guitar player and enjoyed fishing, boating and carpentry work. Jim was proud of prospecting for and collecting precious and semi-precious minerals and gems. He belonged to the Lower Bucks County Rock and Mineral Club. He was the son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth Lengenfelder Keegan; beloved husband of the late Elizabeth Buttitta "Betty" Keegan and brother of the late Thomas Keegan. He leaves behind to mourn his death, but also to celebrate his life, his two daughters, Jean Keegan Daly and Lori Keegan Beyerle and her husband, Bruce, along with four sons, J. Michael Keegan and his wife, Marianne, Robert Keegan and his wife, Cari, Thomas Keegan; his companion, Nadia Fedyk and Charles "Buddy" Keegan and his companion, Barbara Durante, also his 14 grandchildren, 11 great- grandchildren and his loving companion, Mary V. Smith, along with a sister-in-law, Dorothy Keegan. The funeral will be held on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. from Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Rd., Lawrenceville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. at St. Raphael's R.C. Church, 3500 S. Broad St. in Hamilton. Entombment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery Mausoleum in Hamilton. Family and friends may call on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. For those wishing, donations can be made to the American Heart Association, 1 Union St., Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691. For directions or to leave a condolence, please visit www.poulsonvanhise.com