Leo Keshner was born on April 28, 1912 in a village in Prussia. When he was three months old his family emigrated to the United States, and settled in East St. Louis.  

Keshner eventually moved to St. Louis where he married Sophie Nathan in 1934.  They were married 78 years and had three children, twins Carolyn Epstein and Marolyn Keshner, and a son Gary Keshner. Leo worked for the Shampaine Company for most of his adult life. After retiring from there, he volunteered at Mercy Hospital (formerly St. John’s Mercy Health Center). Hospital personnel liked the way he worked so much that they offered him a paying job.

Keshner loved taking trips and cruises with his wife. One of his favorite trips was to Israel. Other favorite pastimes include dancing, playing cards and spending time with friends.

His wife Sophie died at the age of 100 just a couple weeks before Leo’s 100th birthday.

Currently, Keshner lives at Delmar Gardens in Chesterfield where he uses a wheelchair but “gets around pretty good,” according to his daughter Carolyn. His daughters and three grandchildren celebrated his 101st birthday with him in April.

“I had cancer three times and take a lot of medicine,” said Carolyn Epstein. “My father takes one pill a day.”