I sadly learned last week that a good friend, Jerry Keene, passed away suddenly last Friday, July 14th, according to his son, Mark. Jerry, who was 83, led the family-operated Keene Engineering mining equipment manufacturing company and was CEO up until his passing last week.
Most of the mining community knew Jerry. He was well-liked and also a familiar icon within the portable gold mining equipment industry.
Jerry Keene was the second-generation of family leadership of Keene Engineering that his father, Ernie Keene began in the early 1950s. Jerry assumed leadership of Keene after Ernie was killed in a fatal airplane accident. Jerry expanded the business that was well-known for its product line of dredges and other portable gold mining equipment. He continued an active role in Keene business leadership up until his passing last week. His sons, Mark and Pat, will continue to share leadership in operating the Keene company business.
Liberty Dave