Keith Rhinehart

Keith Rhinehart was inducted into Rock and Roll Heaven on January 8, 2026, where the music is a little bit louder, but our world is definitely more quiet.    Born to Charles and Lillian Rhinehart on November 28, 1952, Keith had a passion for playing the guitar, fast cars, and living life to the fullest. He played guitar and sang in many local bands.

Keith graduated from Montgomery High School in 1970, where he entered into his foray of politics by running for Class President during his senior year.  This was followed by several bids for office in Sonoma County, as it was his great desire to make his community the best that it could be.  

Keith retired from United Parcel Service after a twenty-five year career in management, and during that time, he received his B.A in Business Administration.  After retiring from UPS, Keith substitute taught for fifteen years, following in the footsteps of his father, who was a founding Professor of Education at Sonoma State University.  

In the early sixties, when Sonoma State was built, Keith’s father moved his family from the Bay Area to Sonoma County, and he bought property up on “the hill”, and built the family A-frame chalet.  Keith enjoyed country living with his brother, Dale and the numerous animals that lived on the farm.  After the house burned down in the Glass Fire of 2020, Keith quickly had it rebuilt for his mother, who is in her nineties.  

When Keith was in Ninth Grade, he was presented with an  opportunity not afforded to many teenagers.  His father took a sabbatical from Sonoma State to study the educational systems in Europe, and the family bought a Volkswagen Camper and traveled the continent for 18 months.  Keith’s favorite memories of this trip were living in the UK, Spain, and several other countries  Later in life, Keith enjoyed traveling to London with his son, Liam, and a family cruise to Alaska.  

Keith  was very proud of his children, Maurice and Angele, and his grandchildren.  His grandson, Matteo, played football with the UC Davis Aggies, and he attended many of his football games during the last five years, often enjoying dinner with his daughter and her family afterwards.  He also enjoyed visiting his son Maurice and his family on trips to Texas.  

Keith continued his love of traveling and cruising with his long-term faithful companion, Lynette Kronick, whom he met in Mrs. Truman’s class in Seventh Grade at Slater Junior High.   After they reconnected, they spent many years cruising the seven seas, visiting the 50 States, and enjoying music together.  They sailed on several music-themed cruises, as well as cruises to Panama, the Mediterranean, Iceland and Norway, and a river cruise from Switzerland to Amsterdam.   Their mutual love of the Beatles led them on several adventures such as Abbey Road on the River in Kentucky and International Beatles’ Week in Liverpool.

Keith passed away after a short battle with cancer.  In addition to Lynette, Keith  is survived by his  beloved children, Maurice (Michele) and Angele (Paris), his adored mother, Lillian, his grandchildren, Ethan, Isabelle, Preston, Aiden, Cheyenne, Ana, Matteo, and Joziah, and his faithful dachshund, Maxi.  He is pre-deceased by his father Chuck, his brother, Dale, and his beloved son, Liam.  Services will be held at Santa Rosa Memorial Park, 1900 Franklin Avenue, Santa Rosa on Saturday, February 21 at 1:00 p.m. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Keith Rhinehart, please visit our floral store.