Donovan L. Kelleher 1932-2008

STUDIER, KELLEHER, HAAS, PFAB, MERRITT, BAHL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/24/2008 at 20:33:39

Donovan L. Kelleher

Donovan L. "Red" Kelleher, 75, of 2647 Pinard St., went to his eternal reward at 3:24 p.m. Friday, Jan. 4, 2008, at home, surrounded by his loving, sorrowful family. He had made a short, valiant fight against a glioblastoma brain tumor.

Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, with the Rev. Tom Zinkula, the Rev. David Schatz and Deacon David Brinkmoeller officiating. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Kelleher began working at the former Frommelt Industries in high school and retired from there in 1991 after 41 years. In retirement, he worked at Phoenix Chemical, Betty Jane Candies and more recently drove for Richardson Motors.

He was born on Sept. 13, 1932, in Dubuque, son of Melvin and Dorothy (Studier) Kelleher.

In 1943, the Haas family moved next door to the Kellehers, and nine years later, after he "finally let her catch him," Red married Mary Ann Haas on Nov. 8, 1952, at Nativity Catholic Church. They had 55 great years together, which resulted in five children, 12 grandchildren, two step grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Red was a member of Holy Ghost Church for more than 50 years and previously had been an usher and lector.

Red attended St. Patrick's grade school and Loras Academy. He was a very talented basketball player through the years, and went to state twice with Loras. He played many city leagues and the love of basketball led him to referee at high schools in the tri-states for quite a few years. Red never missed an event that featured his children, and then his grandchildren.

In earlier years, he was a great ice fisherman and hunter. He enjoyed his fishing vacations in Minnesota and visiting Idaho. He was a member of the Dubuque Boat Club for many years and was a charter member of the Asbury Eagles Club. He enjoyed watching and listening to the Cubs, Packers and Iowa games. With Mary Ann, they enjoyed playing euchre in a couples club for 53 years and poker with his cronies at the Boat Club. He enjoyed volunteering at the Bahl Pumpkin Farm. He loved to shop in his spare time and was always looking for the best bargains in town.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Ann (his MiMi); and his children, Timothy Jon (Helen-nee Majerus) Kelleher, Wanda Jeanne (Gene) Pfab, Wendy Jayne (Dan) Merritt, Terrance Jozef (Deb Avenarius-nee Helling) Kelleher and Todd Jaymes (Ann-nee Schlichte) Kelleher. He was "Grandpa Red" to Karrie (Jason) Moeller, of Pella, Iowa, Kristie (Ryan) Johnson of Oregon, Wis., and Kallie (Todd Siebels) Pfab, Brandon and Brock Merritt and Anna, Ashley, Cheri, Amber, Lauren, Emily and Todd "T.J." Kelleher; and step granddaughters, Ashley and Heather Avenarius, all of Dubuque. He was "Great Grandpa Red" to Allie Joy, Leah, Katelyn and Connor Moeller, Tayva and Arjay Johnson, Madyson Digman, Alyssa and Alivia Reed and baby to be Johnson. Also surviving are a brother, James (Helen) Kelleher; a sister, Susan (Joe) Bahl; and a sister-in-law, Lorraine Kelleher, all of Dubuque; his brothers-in-law, George (Karon) Haas, of Oklahoma City, and Bruce (Connie) Haas, of Anchorage, Alaska; and many loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Robert; his in-laws, George and Jean Haas; his beloved grandson, "TJ" Kelleher; and great-grandson, Connor Jace Moeller.

The family would like to thank the Iowa City Oncology Department, The Finley Hospital nurses on fifth floor, the Wendt Center doctors and nurses, Dr. William Manzell and Dr. Mark Hermann and Hospice of Dubuque, especially Jean, Ann, Shiela, Jan and Edna, for the kindness shown to "Red" and his family.

Copyright (c) Woodward Communications, Inc. 2008, All Rights Reserved. Dubuque Telegraph Herald, January 6, 2008