Monday, September 13, 2021
In Memorial: Geert Keilstrup
Gold Medal would like to express our deepest sympathies on the recent loss of Geert Keilstrup, Chairman of the Board for Gold Medal distributer PANTOM A/S. As one of our pioneering international distributors, our relationship with Geert began in 1979. Throughout the years, he was dedicated to the fun food industry and served as a keystone for Gold Medal’s business in Denmark.
Geert was born April 25, 1934, in the suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark and found a passion for sports at an early age. He excelled in track and field. At a competition in Sweden in 1953, he was noticed by the track and field trainer from the University of Michigan, Don Canham. Geert was offered a four-year scholarship for his athletic performance. And he was recognized as the first Dane ever to be awarded a track and field scholarship at an American university.
Upon completion of his degree, Geert returned to Denmark and worked in various businesses in sales and later as an export manager. In 1963, he established PANTOM A/S as a producer of syrups for lemonades. In the late 1970’s, he expanded the business into fun foods. He was introduced to Gold Medal by Roger Frazier and became a Gold Medal distributor. Geert attended many Gold Medal Dealer Meetings and was appointed to the International Dealer Advisory Council in 1991. He won the Golden Eagle award in 1989 and again in 2006, the year he retired. After he retired, he kept his position as Chairman of the Board until he passed. Geert made a lot of great friends in the Gold Medal community.
On September 10, 2021, Geert passed away in his home at the age of 87. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and four grandsons.
Geert will be remembered as a gifted businessman, dear friend, and avid people person. He worked tirelessly to build the business, which he passed on to the leadership of his sons-in-law, Ole and Per. He was a remarkable husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, and uncle. He will be terribly missed by family, friends, and within the Gold Medal community.