Keagan J. Mace

Our beloved son and brother, Keagan Mace, age 31, died of an accidental overdose at home in Stevens Point on Thursday, August 26, 2021.

While Keagan had struggled for some time with addiction, it did not define the person he was. To those who knew him well, he was a truly wonderful human being; kind, intelligent, gentle and easy-going, quietly hilarious, immensely entertaining, loyal, completely unpretentious and a gifted writer.

Keagan's early years were such happy ones. He was a precocious and inquisitive child and he brought immense joy to our family. His teenage years saw difficult changes, as he struggled with extreme shyness, crippling self-doubt and social anxiety. It was during this time that he began to use alcohol and drugs to help deal with those issues.

One bright spot during that period was his employment as a childcare teacher. Keagan loved working with preschoolers and had a true gift for it. The children, their parents, and his coworkers all thought the world of him. Over the next 10 years, as his addiction progressed, he felt he could no longer be a good role model for children, and he left the job that had once brought him such happiness.

The next few years were dark and difficult. Despite our repeated pleas for him to seek treatment, Keagan refused to admit the severity of his addiction and insisted that he could control what we could all see had gotten completely out of control.

Thankfully, last year he finally realized that he was not able to battle his addiction alone and in December of 2020 he entered rehab. Afterwards he moved back home, to get away from the unhealthy environment he had been living in. For the first time in many years, he seemed happy and optimistic about his future. He began the slow process of putting the pieces of his life back together.

The past 8 months with Keagan at home were a true blessing. They gave us the opportunity to reconnect with our son and brother without the fog of addiction. Although we knew there was a very real chance of relapse, we were so hopeful that he would continue on the path to sobriety, and he seemed hopeful too.

For reasons we will never know, last week Keagan succumbed to his demons and was taken from this world. His death has left an immense void in our lives that can never be filled. During his lifetime, we chose to be private about his addiction. Only family and a handful of close friends were aware of his struggles. But with the unbearable pain of his death, we have decided to be open and share his story. The only good that can come from this senseless tragedy is that it may help bring awareness of the tremendous toll that addiction takes on those who are caught up in it, as well as their families and loved ones.

Throughout his life, Keagan was surrounded by a loving family. He is survived by his parents, Jeff and Marcia Mace and his younger brother and best friend, Cully. We loved him fiercely and deeply and there was never any doubt about his love for us. He is also survived by his aunts and uncles Mary Schneider, Nora (Dave) Lewis, Maddy (Dick) Klug, Patty Mace, Joanne Bitter, Mike (Hannie) Mullen, and Pat (Barry) Butters, and a slew of wonderful cousins. He is also survived by his godmother, Christy Poffinbarger, who was his daycare provider from birth to age 5, his employer for 10 years, and a role model and friend he could always count on. In addition, he is survived by his other godmother Joanie Hanson, who has the ability to see the very best in every individual and to try to help them see it too. Her unconditional love and acceptance were a blessing in Keagan's life.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents George and Mildred Mace and Allan and Shirley Mullen, and by his uncles George Mace Jr., Tom Bitter and Walt Schneider.

Funeral Services will be at the Pisarski Funeral Home, 703 Second St, Stevens Point, on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at 1PM. A Visitation will be at the Funeral Home on Saturday, from 10AM until the Memorial Service.  Private family burial will be at a later date.

While the family welcomes all who would like to pay their respects, due to Covid-19, we ask that you not compound one tragedy with another. For those who are unvaccinated, please wear a mask and maintain proper social distancing.

The Pisarski Funeral Home is honored to be serving the family.  For online condolences please visit www.pisarskifuneralhome.com

A recording of Keagan's Funeral Service is below.