Michael James O'Keefe

Michael James O’Keefe died Saturday, June 20, 2026, of Lewy Body Dementia.

He was born December 29, 1945, in Fall River, Massachusetts, to Gladys Marilyn (Nimmer) and James Donald O’Keefe. Upon his father’s discharge from the U.S. Navy, the family returned to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he grew up. (Mike considered himself a Minnesotan for years after he moved away.)

He graduated from Benilde High School in St. Louis Park in 1963 and from Michigan State University in 1967. He continued his education at Harvard Law School as a member of the Class of 1970. While in law school, he met the love of his life, Virginia (Ginger) Schrade of Middletown, New York.

From July 1969 to July 1971, Mike served in the U.S. Army. Mike and Ginger married July 11, 1970 (on a 3-day pass!). Mike returned to Harvard in 1971 and received his J.D. degree in 1972. Upon graduation, Mike and Ginger moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where he was in private practice for 10 years before moving to the Civil Division of the Polk County Attorney’s Office. He retired in 2006.

Mike was a planner. Over the years, he planned numerous trips—the planning was half the fun! He and Ginger visited all 50 states and all 7 continents. From their wedding day on, Mike planned out and kept track of every highway they took. By the time Mike’s condition curtailed their travels, they had “collected” every state and federal highway in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, and New York.

Mike was tolerant of Ginger’s birdwatching and truly enjoyed seeing her add to her life list, especially on their more distant travels. He learned to love cats (a condition of the marriage), and together they learned to love the Cubs, visiting Wrigley Field numerous times and following the Cubs to a few other cities as well. He was a recreational hiker and bicyclist, an early supporter of the Rails-to-Trails movement, and an advocate for parks and trails in general. He loved trains and, in more recent years, enjoyed a number of trips on Amtrak. He was a parishioner of The Basilica of St. John for 52 years and served for a time as a lector and on the finance committee.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Ginger; his daughter, Theresa Wesley (Todd); and his grandchildren, Michaela and Grant Wesley.

The family would like to recognize and thank the staff of Wesley on Grand; the Dahl Adult Day Center; John's Harbor Memory Loss Center; WesleyLife at Home; and WesleyLife Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Basilica of St. John or WesleyLife Hospice

A visitation will be held at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory (8201 Hickaman Road, Urbandale) on July 9, 2026, from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m., with a rosary preceding the visitation at 5:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at the Basilica of St. John (1915 University Ave, Des Moines) at 12:00 p.m.