Kenneth Keith Kimmel

July 19, 1952 - August 4, 2020

A Memorial Service for Kenneth Keith Kimmel, 68, of Snook, Texas, is set for 1:00pm, Saturday, August 22, 2020, at First United Methodist Church, Bryan, Texas. Keith passed peacefully at his home on August 4, 2020, with his affectionate and loyal canine companion, Mathias, by his side. The pride and joy of Keith’s life were his 2 sons. Michael’s graduation from Texas A&M, and Jeff’s from UT Tyler, as well as mentoring the start of his officiating career, was a great source of pride. Keith was born July 19, 1952, to Lowell Ray Kimmel and Saphronia Marie Brantley Brown Kimmel in Kilgore, Texas. He was the youngest of 6 brothers. The family moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the late 1950’s, where Keith first began school. He graduated from LaGrange High School in 1970 after serving as a two-year letterman for the varsity team as a place-kicker. Keith’s senior season included making it all the way to the 1969 Louisiana High School State Championship game. After high school he attended McNeese State University, earning a BA in Humanities degree in 1974. Keith had a series of interesting jobs, including the oil field sector, before settling in with the US Treasury Department until he retired in 2004 and moved to Burleson County. High School Football and Boys and Girls Basketball were always a Kimmel pastime. It was not until 1979 when his veteran official brother, Roy Kimmel, finally convinced him to put on the stripes. Since then, Keith never looked back and began blazing a trail through his passion for mastering the rules and his joy of being a positive influence on High School athletes. That dedication culminated with being selected for 13 Football State Semi-Final Games, and the 2002 4A State Championship game between Brenham and Denton Ryan at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX. Keith also had these distinctive football honors: 2001-2005 TASO District VIII Director, 2004 Texas High School Coaches Association (T.H.S.C.A.) All-Star Game Supervisor of Officials, 2007 T.H.S.C.A All-Star Game Official- Referee, 2013 Greater Houston Football Coaches Association’s John Kelley Award for Distinguished Service. He remained a career-long member of the TASO football Houston chapter and honorably served as an officer for the Houston basketball official’s chapter. His pure love of the game, along with his infectious sense of humor, created a monumental impact on the student athletes, coaches, and officials alike. Keith’s life was filled with faith, family, laughter, and sports. What set Keith apart from the rest was his ability to bring out the best in everyone he was around. He certainly brought out the best in us as people and as Christians. Being a devout leader in his community, Keith was very much involved with the First United Methodist Church in Bryan, TX, as President of the United Methodist Men, volunteering his time with the Mission Café, assisting with a variety of church programs, and also was a member of the Brazos Valley Emmaus Community. Keith was also a long-time member in good standing of The Grand Lodge of Texas in the Masonic Fraternity, Holland Lodge No. 1, in Houston, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents Lowell & ‘Fronia’ Kimmel; brothers Harold A. Brown, Charles M. Brown, Ronald L. Brown, and Roy Lee Kimmel. He is survived by his sons Jeffrey David Kimmel and fiancée Kailyn Klussmann, and Michael Lee Kimmel; brother Troy Max Kimmel and wife Diane; sister-in-law Theda Kimmel; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, other family; and many members of the football and basketball community. In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church 506 E. 28th St., Bryan, TX 77803; Brazos Valley Emmaus Community, PO Box 10491, College Station, TX 77842; or the charity of your choice.