Keven J. Rhodes

Keven Jeffrey Rhodes, age 73 of East Chicago, Ind., passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 3, 2026. He is survived by his son Keven Guy (Jahaira) Rhodes, granddaughter Sienna Rae Rhodes, former wife Cynthia (Tommy) Mayer, brothers L.E. “Dusty” Rhodes and David (Yvonne) Rhodes, along with many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents L.E. Simpson Rhodes and Mary Ann Rhodes (nee Belzeski), brothers Wendell “Twin” Rhodes and Lendell “Twin” (Shirlee-Kaye) Rhodes, along with sister Marion DeRosa.

A visitation will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Fife Funeral Home (4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN, 46312) from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a private cremation to follow.  Rev. Terry Steffens will hold services at 5:00 pm on Friday.

Keven was born and raised in East Chicago as the youngest of six siblings. He graduated from East Chicago Roosevelt High School in the class of 1972 where he was captain of the varsity football team. Following high school, he took immediate advantage of the Region’s abundant industrial employment opportunities, working as a carpenter and laborer for Inland Steel and Blaw-Knox. He went on to retire from Whiting’s BP Refinery.

Sports were a lifelong passion for Keven. As a child, he played baseball with Club Ki-Yowga Little League in East Chicago, an organization he’d go on to coach as an adult in the 1980’s. He also played football as a kicker and defensive end in a regional semi-pro league with the South Suburban Raiders. Keven also enjoyed playing golf, a source of quality time for him and his son. They spent countless hours together duffing balls into the water hazards at MacArthur Golf Course.

Ultimately, Keven can be best remembered as an uncompromising provider and unconditionally loving father. He did not mince words when he shared his disdain for the sometimes brutal conditions he worked in throughout his heavy-industrial career. He sacrificed there, however, to ensure his son – one of his proudest accomplishments – could enjoy a better life than he had growing up. To that, he was wholly successful.

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