SFC Keith A. Rambo's Obituary
Sergeant 1st Class Keith Aloysius Rambo, age 32, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 18, 2021 in El Paso, Texas. He was born on June 8, 1989, to Michael and Karen (Ribecky) Rambo in Muskegon, MI.
Keith enjoyed every second he had with his children. He was never off duty from fighting for quality of life of his soldiers, but in his spare time he enjoyed being with his family, playing with his kids, sports, riding his motorcycle and working on his car.
Keith was assigned to 47th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team as a 91X Senior Maintenance Supervisor. Rambo joined the U.S. Army in March 2007 from Muskegon, Michigan. He completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky prior to completion of Wheeled Vehicle Maintenance School and assignment to Fort Hood, Texas. Rambo deployed to Iraq three times and once to Kuwait with the 115th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. Following a three-year tour as a Recruiter in Auburn Hills, Michigan, Rambo deployed again to Kuwait with the 215th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division. He served an additional 16 months as a Recruiter in Knoxville, Tennessee before assuming his final assignment at Fort Bliss in July 2020.
Rambo was named to the Commandant’s List upon graduation of the U.S. Army Noncommissioned Officer Senior Leader Course, a graduate of the Wheeled Vehicle Recovery, Combat Life Saver, and Army Recruiter courses, and was a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal (4), Army Achievement Medal (4), Meritorious Unit Medal (3), Army Superior Unit Award, Army Good Conduct Medal (4), Iraq Campaign Medal with two Combat Stars, Global War on Terror Expeditionary and Service Medals, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with “3” numeral, Overseas Service Ribbon with “3” numeral, the Recruiter Identification Badge, Driver/Mechanic Badge with Operator, Mechanized and Wheeled Vehicle Bars, and the Expert Marksmanship Badge-Carbine. Keith is survived by his loving parents, Michael and Karen Rambo; children, Steven A. Rambo, Jacob T. Rambo, Nataleigh M. Rambo and their mother, Rachel Rambo (Whisler); sisters, Brandi (Derek) Ribecky-Copley, Rachel Rambo; grandmother, Helen (Monte) Tietsort; nephew, Trevor Ribecky; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Mary Jo Rambo; grandfather, Aloysius J. Ribecky; and uncle, Edward J. Ribecky.
VISITATION with Keith’s family will take place from 2:00 – 6:00 PM on Sunday, August 1, 2021, at The Lee Chapel of The Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St. Norton Shores, MI 49444. A FUNERAL SERVICE will take place on Monday, August 2, 2021, at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial and Military Honors will take place at Sunrise Memorial Gardens following the services. For a more lasting memory, donations in Keith’s name can be made to 22 Until Valhalla. Keith had many friends and fellow service members affected by mental health issues after their heroic service to our country. Feel free to sign the family’s online guestbook and share a memory at www.sytsemafh.com.
Donations: 22 UNTIL VALHALLA
[https://www.22uv.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5e25d392518cc75eb748bb53]
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