Don W. Kelso (1911 - 2004)

KELSO, WELCH, GOULD, PUTNEY, HUGHES, TOMKINS, CUNNINGHAM, GRAHAM, RIEKS, MARKLEY, BECK, AJRAZ, ADAMSON, LEE, KASTLER

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 9/7/2011 at 23:14:50

Unknown Newspaper

Don Kelso
Don W. Kelso, son of William Conner Kelso and Ida Mae Welch Kelso, was born March 27, 1911, in Ward Township, Clarke County and died March 16, 2004, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 92.

He attended country schools in Clarke County. He married Mary Emily Gould on April 21, 1935, in Murray and they became the parents of five children.

Mr. Kelso was a lifetime farmer and spent his entire life in Clarke County. He and Mrs. Kelso enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Ariz. for 16 years.

He was a member of the First Christian Church in Osceola and a member of Farm Bureau. Mr. Kelso served as a country school director for many years; he was a township assessor and served on the election board.

He enjoyed visiting with his neighbors and kids that lived nearby, walking and playing pool. He loved his family and especially enjoyed reading to his grandkids. He always enjoyed when people mistakenly thought his sons were his brothers.
Mr. Kelso was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Evelyn Mary Putney; a brother, Richard Kelso; a daughter-in-law, Joyce Kelso; and a sister-in-law, Helen Hughes.

He is survived by his wife of Osceola; sons, Larry Kelso and his wife, Judy Kelso, of Garden Grove, Darrel Kelso and his wife, Kenlyn Kelso, of Weldon and Bill Kelso and his wife, Sandye Kelso, of Osceola; a daughter, Joann Tompkins and her husband, Bob Tompkins, of Van Wert. Other survivors include 13 grandchildren, Cheryl Anne Cunningham and her husband, Alan Cunningham, of Texas City, Texas, Donald L. Kelso Jr. and his wife, Tonya Kelso and Derrek Kelso, all of Osceola, Kathy Lynn Graham and her husband, Paul Graham, and Lynda Rieks and her husband Brad Rieks, all of Altoona, David Eric Kelso and his wife, Anita Kelso, of Garden Grove, Brian Charles Kelso and friend Angie Markley and Kyle Richard Kelso and his wife, Marne Kelso, of Weldon, Elizabeth Dawn Beck and her husband, Dan Beck, of Des Moines, Marcia Kae Ajraz and her husband Alex Ajraz, of Euless, Texas, Tari Lynn Adamson and her husband, Duane Adamson, of Indianola, Michael Lee Tompkins and his wife, Martha Tompkins, of Van Wert and Brent William Kelso and his wife, Ronna Kelso of Charlotte, N.C.

Also surviving are 24 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren; two nieces, Elaine Lee and her husband Bob Lee of Osceola and Janice Kastler and her husband John Kastler, of Belmond; other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Kelso were March 20 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Phil Coe officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied Linda Bachman as she sang Old Rugged Cross and In the Garden.

Casket bearers were Donald L. Kelso Jr., David Eric Kelso, Brian Charles Kelso, Kyle Richard Kelso, Michael Lee Tomkins, Brent William Kelso, Derrek Reed Kelso and Marvin Blanchard. Honorary bearers were Alan Cunningham, Paul Graham, Dan Beck, Alex Ajraz, Duane Adamson, Brad Rieks and Claude Patterson. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family for a scholarship to be established in Mr. Kelso’s name.