Keith Charles Emricson, 76

Keith Charles Emricson, 76, of Wimauma, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 surrounded by family.
He was born Aug. 3, 1943, in Woodstock, Ill., to Thore and Hulda (Shultz) Emricson. He married Judy A. Belcher on Oct. 21, 1982, in Gibsonton, Fla.
He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. He worked several years offshore, then found his calling in fencing and started his own company, D&E fencing, with David Dillard. He then began working for Merchants Metals as assistant manager in 1998 and retired in 2008.
He loved to fish. It was his passion. He always looked forward to his annual fishing trips with his brothers in past years. He enjoyed the countless fishing trips with Billy Howell, who he had the pleasure of working with for many years. He had a love of watching old Westerns, and enjoyed discussing them with his best friend of 45 years, Big Mike. He loved his trips to Homosassa every other month to visit one of his closest and dearest friends, Huck, and sister-in-law, Dreama, and also his trips to the Lake Ranch in Lake Placid with his best bud, Jim. He was a die-hard Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and enjoyed watching them in the new BarnBar he and his son-in-law Joey had recently built together, well, Keith “supervised.” He enjoyed family and was a very proud father and grandpa (pepaw).
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Judy aka Schatz; six children, two living in Illinois and four living in Florida, Diane Landers, Laura Halicke (Ron), James Rowell (Katie), Susan Kapioski (John), Jeff Emricson (Renee), Margo Hunter(Joey); 19 grandchildren, Amanda, Lisa, Ashley, Bubba, Ronnie, Corey, James, Paul, Taylor, Josie, Courtney, Hope, Brook, Chaz, Austin, Alec, Yamari, Rowan and Payton; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers, Larry Emricson (Mary), Ken Emricson(Merlyn); two sisters, Carol Knudsen and Darlene Lilja (Milton); two sisters-in-law, Marge Emricson and Charlotte Emricson; and many nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Angie Ballard; his parents; brother Ronald C. Emricson and LaVern T. Emricson; a sister, Anna Marie Emricson; and brother-in-law LeRoy Knudsen.
He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by family, friends, and his beloved dog, Duke.
There will be a celebration of his life on Jan. 18 2020, 2 p.m. at the Hunter-Emricson Ranch,
15026 CR 672, Wimauma, FL 33598.