Keith Randall Erickson

Keith Randall Erickson, 70, of Urbana passed away at 2:18 p.m. on Friday, April 26, 2019 at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, surrounded by his family.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2019 at First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, 302 W. Church St., Champaign. Pastor Scott Keeble will officiate. A visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2019 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory in Urbana. Burial will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Champaign at a later date.

Keith was born in Chicago on November, 14, 1948 to parents Robert and Emilie (Sasko) Erickson. They preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death was his sister, Karen Potts.

On July 26, 1980 Keith married Virginia Peverly in Clinton IL, she survives. Also surviving are their children; Cynthia (Bob) Heren, Kevin (Kari) Erickson and three grandchildren; Lydia, Caleb, and Andrew.

Keith was a graduate of Maine South High School in Park Ridge, IL, attended Bradley University and received his Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois.

Keith was employed by the University’s Facilities and Services Division for forty years, most recently as the Associate Director Utilities & Energy Services, Utilities Distribution. . He was the recipient of numerous awards during his professional career including the Cecil Coleman Award for public safety, the Chancellor’s Academic Professional Excellence Award, and the ISPE Professional Engineering Management Award. He was an integral part of the construction of the university’s Solar Farm.  He was also employed part time as an electrical expert by Ruhl Forensic, Inc.  Recently, he was elected Vice President of Small Utilities to the Illinois state J.U.L.I.E. Board of Directors, and was appointed the Energy Sector Chief with Infragard, a civilian FBI partner organization.

He was a member of the Illinois and the National Society of Professional Engineers, the International Association of Arson Investigators, the National Safety Council, as well as the International Association of Electrical Inspectors.

Keith was a constant advocate of personal integrity and public safety. He served on the City of Urbana Building Safety Code Board of Appeals, the City of Urbana Property Maintenance Code Board of Appeals, and the Champaign County Local Emergency Planning Committee.  He was also a Republican Precinct Committeeman in Champaign County and a Charter Member of Copper Creek Church in Champaign. Keith successfully completed the FBI Citizens Academy program. He supported his children in their activities by coaching soccer, attending games, and timing swim meets. He was always eager to share his engineering and electrical knowledge with young students, scouts and university students. He was a judge for many years at the Engineering Open House.  

His favorite activities were spending time with his family cheering on the Illini football and basketball teams, patrolling campus on foot with Coco, his cocker spaniel, and vacationing in Door County, WI.

Memorial contributions may be made in Keith’s honor to Copper Creek Church Welcome Home Building Campaign.To make a memorial gift online, please go to https://www.coppercreekchurch.org/giving/.  From there, click the "Give Now" button and enter an amount in the Welcome Home Campaign box.  Checks may be made payable to Copper Creek Church (just put “Keith” in the memo line) and sent to 2500 Galen Dr, Suite 13.  Champaign IL 61821.

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