John Christopher McKeon, 89, of Orefield, passed peacefully, Friday, June 27, 2008 in Allentown. He was the husband of the late Olga (Leichner) McKeon.

Born in New York City, but raised in Duleek, Ireland, John was the son of the late John J. and Margaret (Gorman) McKeon. He graduated from St. Columbia Technical Institute in Draugheda, Ireland before returning to the United States where he settled in New York to attend the Pratt Institute. He came to Allentown with the former Western Electric Company and settled in Orefield to raise his family.

John was very instrumental in the development of South Whitehall Township and after seeing the township upgrade to First Class Status, served as President of the Board of Commissions from 1966 - 1976. Active in many local organizations, he served as President, Volunteer and Firefighter of the Tri-Clover Fire Co., as Grand Knight of the Allentown Knights of Columbus and former member of the Upper Lehigh Lions Club. Mr. McKeon was appointed Regional Vice-President of the Telephone Pioneers of America, an affiliate of AT&T, in 1973 and was active in that volunteer organization for many years thereafter. He and his late wife Olga were ardent ballroom dancers, and very involved in the Allentown Cotillion and the Allentown Symphony Ball for which he served as President of the Men's Committee.

He was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church in Orefield. Since retiring in 1981, Mr. McKeon served as the Parish Center Administrator for 10 years in the parish he so loved, and he took great delight in the hundreds of wedding receptions he helped to coordinate. Into his later years, Mr. McKeon was an avid walker and would often be seen at the Wehr's Dam, Covered Bridge Park for his 5 mile trek. He was dedicated to his family, friends and faith. He loved his big, white home by the Jordan River and made a habit of having candles in every window at Christmas and geraniums around the porch in the summer.

Survivors: Daughter, Phyllis M. McCann and her husband Paul of Pittsburgh; five grandchildren, Janet W. King and her husband Steven, Christopher J. McCann and his wife Lucy, John S. Webster and his wife Donnell, William M. McCann and his wife Robin and Meredith M. Aumer and her husband Robert; twelve great grandchildren, Matthew and Margaret King, Patrick, Bridget and Andrew McCann, Bennett and Garrett Webster, Madeline and Rebecca McCann and Anna, James and Theodore Aumer; his wonderful and loved friend Maria Dresen; his AFS daughter, Christiane Stamm Sander and her husband Bernd; his “chosen daughter”, Anita Malast. In addition to his beloved wife Olga, he was predeceased by a daughter, Judith McKeon Webster and a brother, Patrick James McKeon.

Services: Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church, 1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield. Visitation period will be held 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. Monday in the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., 4906 Route 309, Schnecksville. Interment will follow the service at Resurrection Cemetery, Wescosville.

Contributions: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph the Worker Memorial Fund and/or Charity of Donor's Choice in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box # 196, Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196.