Howard William Keeler, 40, passed away on September 1, 2026, in Mansfield, Ohio, due to cardiac complications.
Howard was born on April 20, 1986, in Norwalk, Connecticut, and spent much of his childhood in North Carolina, where he graduated from Wakefield High School.
Howard was a lifelong and self-proclaimed gamer. He dreamed of becoming the next great Call of Duty or NASCAR gamer. Through gaming, Howard built friendships with people from all over, many of whom became friends despite the miles between them. His online friends will undoubtedly miss the competition, rivalry, trash talk, and countless gaming battles they shared with him over the years.
When Howard wasn’t gaming, there was a good chance he was fishing—or at least thinking about fishing. He would fish just about any body of water he could find and simply enjoyed being near the water with a fishing pole in hand. Howard also had a special knack for untangling fishing lines that few could match, a skill that certainly came in handy during his many hours spent fishing.
Howard is survived by his brother, Christopher Keeler, and Christopher’s wife, Kelly; his nieces, Alexa, Christina, and Andrea; his nephew, Jackson; his aunt and uncle, Barbara and Scott Kellar; his fiancée, Kaitlin Larsen; as well as other extended family members and countless friends he made throughout his life, and those he came to know through the online gaming community.
Howard was preceded in death by his mother, Debra Barnes-Springer (2008).
In lieu of flowers or donations, Howard’s family simply asks that you honor his memory by taking care of yourself and those you love. Make your heart health a priority, keep up with regular checkups, and don’t put off getting something checked when it doesn’t feel right. If Howard’s passing can encourage even one person to be more proactive about their heart health, it would be a meaningful way to honor his memory.
Howard’s family will hold a private Celebration of Life in his memory.
Howard will be deeply missed by his family, his fiancée, his friends, and the many people who knew him online but considered him a true friend nonetheless.
Werner-Gompf Funeral Services, 1106 Park Avenue East, Mansfield, is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements.
Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.wernergompf.com
Funeral Home: Werner-Gompf Funeral Services
Website: www.wernergompf.com