Paul Harold Keiser

Paul Harold Keiser, a resident of the Willow Valley Communities, died Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Born in Dalton, OH on June 1, 1927, he was the son of the late Rev. Austin Rosenberg and Elrena Ethel Tschantz Keiser.  He graduated as a pre-med student from Mt. Union College, Ohio and received his Master’s in Health Care Administration from Northwestern University in 1952.

Paul started his career as the Administrator of Community Hospital in Evanston, Illinois followed by an administrative position at the Burlington Medical Center in Burlington, Iowa from 1954-1967.  He also had an administrative assignment at Northwestern Memorial Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.  Paul retired from York Hospital in July 1988 after serving as President of York Hospital for 25 years.

He was a life fellow of the American College of Healthcare Administrators, a life member of the American Hospital Association, and the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania where he was elected Chairman of the Board in 1983.  He was also President of the Board of Directors of the Iowa Hospital Association and a lecturer and seminar leader for several university programs in health care administration.  Paul was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity.

Paul was a an active member of several community activities which included directorships of the York Rotary Club, Junior Achievement of York County, York Area Chamber of Commerce, York Habitat for Humanity and the United Way.  In addition, he was involved with the York County Farm and Natural Lands Trust and the Nixon County Park Treasury of Wildlife.  In 1994 Paul served as the Secretary of the North Codorus Township Planning Committee as well as a member of the North Codorus Township Board of Supervisors.  He was instrumental in joining the North Codorus Township and Southwestern Regional Police in an effort to regionalize this area to better serve residents.

Paul served as an emeritus member of the Penn State Advisory Board, the White Rose Motor Club and an member of the Susan Byrnes Health Education Center Governing Board since its inception.

In 2004 Paul and Nancy relocated to Willow Valley in Willow Street, PA.  Paul served as a board member of the Mathias J. Brunner Nursing Education Fund.  He was also a member of the Spring Run Advisory Committee.

In his spare time, Paul enjoyed playing tennis, camping with his family, woodworking and using his skills as a handyman.  Paul was an active member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of York and the First Presbyterian Church of Burlington, Iowa. Paul and Nancy traveled all over the world to such places as China, Italy and to their favorite place, Jamaica.

Paul is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nancy Homan Keiser who was also active in several community organizations and a great supporter of Paul’s participation in his community activities.  They have one son, James William Keiser (Terry Brandt); three daughters, Martha Ann Lee (Ronald), Elizabeth Louise Green (James), and Dr. Patricia Elrena Bell (John).  They also have ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at 2:30 P.M. at First Presbyterian Church, 140 E. Orange St., Lancaster, PA with the Rev. Dr. Donald Hackett and the Rev. Dr. James Murr officiating.  The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 1:30 P.M. until the time of the service.  Interment in the Memorial Gardens of the First Presbyterian Church of York.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Mathias J. Brunner Nursing Education Fund, c/o Willow Valley Manor North, 600 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA  17602.