Keith D. Corson

Keith Daniel Corson, 74, of Granger, passed away at 4:20 pm at Elkhart General Hospital on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 following an extended illness.

He was born October 27, 1935 in Elkhart to Carl W. and Charlotte (Keyser) Corson. He married Janice Faye King in Bristol on July 14, 1957. She survives along with a daughter, Staci Lynn Corson of South Bend; a brother Thomas H. (Dot) Corson of Middlebury; and a sister Judith K. (Larry) Lentz of Elkhart. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Claude E. Corson, and a sister Rosalie P. Corson.

A 1953 graduate of Bristol High School, he served in the US Marine Corps after which he attended Wichita State University and then worked for Sears Roebuck and Taylor Products in Elkhart.

In 1964, he and his brothers Tom and Claude Corson, founded Coachmen Industries, Inc. in Middlebury. Keith helped engineer the company’s earliest products as president of the firm and oversaw all manufacturing and procurement operations until 1981, at which time he departed to manage the Robertson’s Department Stores and later to acquire Koszegi Products, Inc. in South Bend which he sold in 1990.

He then returned to Coachmen Industries and resumed the position of president and a director until his retirement in 2000. He was very instrumental in the diversification of Coachmen throughout its history and during his tenure had served the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association as its chairman of the Quality Control and Standards Committee.

Keith served on the boards of the Stanley Clark School and the Century Center, and was a member of Elcona Country Club, American Legion Post 210 in Middlebury, the Bristol United Methodist Church and numerous other organizations over his lifetime.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 pm Saturday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, Bristol Street at Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart where the memorial service will be at 2:30 pm Sunday. The Rev. Fred Stayton will officiate. Cremation has taken place at Keith’s request. Burial will be in the Oakridge Cemetery, Bristol at a later date.

Memorials may be given to the Bristol United Methodist Church, 201 Division St., Bristol, IN 46507, or Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Dr., South Bend, IN 46637. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to sign an online guestbook.