Kelly, Mary D. (1926-2015)
KELLY, BIITTNER, MILEFCHIK, PAUL
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 9/9/2015 at 12:36:10
Mary D. Kelly
September 1, 1926 - August 30, 2015Mary D. Kelly, age 88, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on August 30, 2015, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.
Mary Darlene Biittner, a daughter of John and Catherine (Milefchik) Biittner was born in rural Fonda on September 1, 1926. In 1944, she graduated from St. Columbkille High School in Varina as the valedictorian of her class and as that year’s May Queen. Then, she attended the Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha, Nebraska. Afterwards, she worked in both Omaha and Pocahontas, Iowa.
Mary married Edward Keith “Chuck” Kelly on February 1, 1951. They began farming near Varina where they lived and raised their family. In addition to countless hours devoted to her boys and Chuck, Mary, also, worked as the Assistant Postmaster in Varina, a job she really enjoyed.
Mary actively participated in both her church and community. A member of the Varina Rosary Maker’s Club and a very proud Eucharistic Minister at St. Columbkille’s, she, regularly, took communion to the nursing homes in the area. In addition, she had served as Grand Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America. A member of the Women’s Legion Auxiliary, she had, also, served as the president of the Varina Public Library Board. Moreover, she enjoyed quilting with the Freedom Quilters.
A witty and whimsical lady, Mary read voraciously and played a very competitive card game. Passionate about sports, she, especially, enjoyed following Iowa basketball. She embraced new technology, sending a daily email to her family and constantly remained in awe at what she could discover by googling on her computer.
When Mary was fifty-nine years young, she decided to go skydiving. She did it, and loved it. She went a second time and loved it again, but promised Chuck, her worried husband, she would not do it again. She did, however, go hang-gliding over the Atlantic Ocean at Corolla, North Carolina, at the age of sixty-eight. Moreover, she also enjoyed airplane rides with Chuck in the Merri Dee from the “Varina International Airport.”
Mary was preceded in death by her husband; two infant sons; a grandson, Ryan Kelly; her parents; her brother, Oscar “Bud;” and two sisters, Ruth and Bonnie “Sister Rose Catherine.”
Mary is survived by her sons, John (LaVeda), of Atlanta, Georgia, Mitch (Jean), of Glenwood, Iowa, and Scott, of Tucson, Arizona; her sister, Colleen (Lanny) Paul, of Pocahontas, Iowa; seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and her brother-in-law, Francis (Jackie) Kelly, of Varina, Iowa; as well as by many special nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
A Funeral Mass will be offered Thursday, September 3, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Varina, Iowa. Burial will follow in St. Columbkille Cemetery. Visitation will take place Wednesday, September 2, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake with a recitation of the rosary at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.
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