Kelsay, Phillip 1938-2012

KELSAY, WELSH, HILDEBRANDT, ONEAL, FOWLER, LAUGHLIN

Posted By: Ruth Maring - VOLUNTEER
Date: 2/2/2012 at 13:33:44

Phillip Kelsay, 73, of Camanche, died Sunday at Mercy Medical Center, North Campus, Clinton.

Visitation will be at noon until the start of the Funeral Services at 2:30 pm, Thursday, January 19, 2012 at the Camanche Chapel Snell-Zornig Funeral Home with Pastor Dennis Glew officiating. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Mark Kelsay, Rick Kelsay, Rory O’Neal, Gary Hildebrandt, Terry Hildebrandt and Eric Hildebrandt.

Phillip Kelsay was born on March 10, 1938 in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Stanley and Gladys (Welsh) Kelsay. He married Emily Hildebrandt on January 14, 1956 in Clarence, Iowa.

Phil was a 1956 graduate of Clinton High School. He was employed at ADM as a starch processor in Clinton for 42 years retiring in 1996. He was currently employed as a custodian at the Camanche Elementary School for the past 6 years.

Phil loved music and was a member of the Chromatics, playing bass harmonica in the 60’s and enjoyed playing Boogie and Blues music on his Yamaha Clavinova organ.

His passion for cars always came through in conversations and showed with his recent purchase of his new pride and joy, Dodge Ram “Hemi” which he will be taking his last ride in to Rose Hill Cemetery. He loved to travel, spending many summers camping when the the kids were young and later on visiting his kids and grandkids and stopping to have a margarita by the ocean. He looked forward to the monthly meetings of River City Red Hat Club where he was an honorary member at their luncheons.

Phil is survived by his wife, Emily of Camanche; two daughters: Marcia (Rory) O’Neal of Reno, Nevada, Lori (Carey) Fowler of Powder Springs, Georgia; two sons: Mark Kelsay of Camanche, Iowa, and Rick (Anna) Kelsay of Reno, Nevada; 7 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson; his sister: Pamella (Robert) Laughlin of Kansas City, Missouri.

Phillip was preceded in death by his father: Stanley on April 6, 2011, his mother: Gladys on September 14, 2011, and a grandson: Devin O’Neal on August 11, 2008.

Memorials can be made to the Camanche Elementary School Music Room.