Keene O'Dell Marstrell II

The world became a bit less interesting on July 22, 2026, when Keene O’Dell Marstrell II died, leaving behind a family that adored him and enough stories to last several lifetimes. He spent his 75 years loving his family fiercely, breaking a few rules, and living life at full volume.

The son of Keene O’Dell Marstrell I and Anna Louise Patterson Marstrell, Keene was born September 2, 1950, in Dennison, Ohio. His childhood on Spring Street was filled with neighborhood adventures, Little League baseball, and the wholesome freedom and optimism of the 1950s. Like so many boys of that era, he grew up with Leave It to Beaver and Gunsmoke on the television and endless hours spent outdoors. He shared an especially close bond with his Grandma Mable, who rarely resisted joining his adventures. At his insistence, she faithfully wore a toy shoulder holster while they played Gunsmoke, pretending to shoot bandits around the corners of the house. More than once, she was still wearing that holster while washing the evening dishes.

Some people are born with gasoline in their veins. Keene was born with racing fuel and diesel in his. At six years old, he began “practicing” in the oil tanker trucks at Laurel Valley Oil Company. By fourth grade, he was starting them and driving them short distances. By twelve, he was “borrowing” his mother’s Buick and racing it up Wolf Run Road. He later drove transport trucks for the family business, often with his oldest daughters riding along. That lifelong love affair with anything on wheels eventually culminated in sponsoring a Super Late Model race team.

Keene graduated from Claymont High School with the Class of 1969, where he played varsity basketball, excelled academically when he was so inclined, and did his best to keep his pranks under the radar of the school's administrators. He spent countless hours at the rec room above a friend’s garage (known simply as “The Pit”) where friendships were forged, stories were born, and memories were made that he treasured for the rest of his life. A high school friend once remarked that one of Keene’s favorite pastimes was instigating mayhem, only to sit back and watch it unfold. It seemed fitting, then, that Keene, a lifelong Cleveland sports fan, was in attendance for two of the most infamous games in Cleveland sports history: 1974’s Ten-Cent Beer Night and 2001’s Bottlegate.

He later attended Mount Union University and Kent State University, earning Dean’s List honors at both. He proudly served in the United States Air Force from 1970 to 1976, attaining the rank of Sergeant and serving with the 121st Tactical Fighter Wing. After his military service, he worked as a truck driver, salesman, business executive, and state-certified concrete inspector. None of those titles, however, defined him. The role that mattered most was being Dad.

His greatest legacy lives on in the memories he created with his family. To one child, he was the adventurous dad who thought nothing of bouncing down the road in a Jeep with no seats or racing snowmobiles across frozen fields. To another, he was a man with contagious confidence and unwavering optimism who made everyone around him believe they had more to give and that there was always something left in the tank. To another, he had an eye for what looked good and a knack for improving anything he touched. He saw possibilities and endless potential where everyone else saw what already was. To yet another, he was the father who insisted the house be “redd up,” left perfectly vacuumed carpets marked with signature stars, and mowed the lawn wearing loafers and dress pants, always finding new ways to reinvent fashion. His children will remember dance classes, car washes, weekends spent playing baseball and backyard football, and a father who showed up with enthusiasm, encouragement, and love. Life with Keene was rarely ordinary. He didn’t just tell his children stories; he made sure they had stories of their own.

On October 20, 1986, Keene married Crystal McGuire Marstrell. She was his partner in every sense of the word, his sounding board, his confidante, and the steady hand behind his endless big ideas. She cared for him with unwavering devotion throughout his illness, never leaving his side and never stopping her advocacy on his behalf.

Keene lived with a quiet disdain for the rules, a deep reverence for God, a special devotion to Our Lady, and an unwavering faith in the Cleveland Browns. He preferred both his music and his life at full volume, and neither chronic kidney disease nor cancer ever diminished his spirit nor his sense of humor. To Keene, the odds were simply another rule to ignore.

In addition to his parents, Keene was preceded in death by his beloved cousin, Maryann Wakefield; dear friend Bill Pocock; favorite Cleveland Brown Gene Hickerson; first (imaginary) friends Billy Bridgeman and James “Jimmy” Whitemeat; and canine companions Mack, Beenov, Barney, Pati, Molly, Vallo, Morgan, and Harley.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Crystal McGuire Marstrell; his children, Keeley (Adam) Kochman, Kristin (Jan-Michael) Gintz, Kimberly (Michael) Moore, Keene (Caitlin) Marstrell III, and Kiani (Andrew) Kubena; grandchildren Kamille and Khloe Gintz, Abigail and Lincoln Kubena, and Kolbie and Keene Marstrell IV; sister Michele (Larry) Catalano; nieces Ann Michele (Rob) Wengerter and Nicole (Dave) Groves; aunt Glenda Henson; special cousins Rand (Carolyn) Patterson and Dr. Darcy Wakefield (Chris Dower).

Mass of the Christian Burial to honor Keene was observed by loved ones on Monday, August 3, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Church in Canton, Ohio and his earthly body was laid to rest.

The loudest parts of Keene’s life made for the best stories, but the quietest parts revealed his heart. For all of his larger-than-life adventures and mischievous spirit, many never knew how quietly he helped others, how generously he gave, or how often he did so anonymously, expecting nothing in return. In that same spirit, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Capital City Hospice or the Cleveland Browns Foundation to support youth programs.