Donald Larry Kelso (1937 - 2018)

KELSO, GOULD, SPOON, PUTNEY, HUGHES, CUNNINGHAM, GRAHAM, REED, PIERCE, ELSWICK, CHAMLEE, WILES, PLOCK, WHITSON, STAMPER, TOMPKINS, JOHNSON, KASTLER

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 12/6/2018 at 19:03:56

Kale Funeral Home
Osceola, Iowa

Donald Larry Kelso Sr., son of Don Kelso and Mary (Gould) Kelso was born March 24, 1937 in Osceola. He passed from this life Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola, at 81 years of age.

Larry grew up in Clarke county, attended the Bell Country School and Osceola High School. Larry was united in marriage to Joyce Elaine Spoon June 12, 1955 in Osceola at the Christian Church; being the first couple married there. Together they raised their 5 children and also farmed in the Clarke and Decatur counties. Besides farming; Larry worked for Jimmy Dean Foods in Osceola, being one of the first workers hired; Kayot Camper in Indianola; Central Paving, where one of his projects was the runway at the new Osceola airport; custodian for Morman Trail School District; then later having to retire in 2008 because of health issues.

Larry was a loving and caring family man who enjoyed gardening, woodworking, welding, and collecting toy tractors.

Larry is preceded in death by his wife of almost 43 years, Joyce Kelso; his parents Don and Mary Kelso; sister, Evelyn; brother Darrell; father-in-law Charles Spoon; mother-in-law Pansy Spoon; brothers-in-law, Ron Spoon and Harold Putney; aunt Helen Hughes; son-in-law Alan Cunningham; and nephew Rick Spoon.

Those left to cherish his memory are; daughter Cheryl Cunningham of Texas City, TX, son, Don (Tonya) Kelso, Jr. of Osceola; daughter Kathi (Paul) Graham of Altoona; son, David (Anita) Kelso of Garden Grove; son Brian; grandchildren: Melissa (Joe) Reed, Chris (Sarah) Kelso, Eric Kelso, Matt (Tiffany) Pierce, Justin Kelso, Jessica (Jamie) Elswick, Amy (Mike) Chamlee, Ashley (Andy) Wiles, Amber (Bradin) Plock, Andrew (Heather) Graham, Brice (Raelynn) Kelso, Autumn Kelso, Kristina Whitson, Trevor Kelso, Megan (Jacob) Stamper, and Angel Kelso; plus 41 great grandchildren; sister Joann (Bob) Tompkins of Van Wert; brother, Bill (Sandye) Kelso of Osceola; sisters-in-law, Gloria Spoon of Berryville, AR, Kenlyn Kelso of Osceola, Joan (Trenneth) Johnson of Murray; cousin Elaine (Robert) Lee of Osceola; cousin Janice (John) Kastler of Omaha, NE; as well as other relatives and many friends.