KELSEY, James "Burt" 1922-2009
KELSEY, BURTON, FIELD
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/1/2009 at 21:09:06
RUDD, IOWA - James "Burt" Kelsey, 87, of 1765 Hickory Ave. in Rudd, passed away Thursday (July 30, 2009) at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, 2009, at the Rudd United Methodist Church at 611 Sixth St. in Rudd with the Rev. Wendy Johannesen officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to Burt's service at the Rudd United Methodist Church, 611 Sixth St. in Rudd.
Burt's final request was to donate his body to the Mayo Clinic Whole Body Donation Program in Rochester, Minnesota. Cremation and private family inurnment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the James "Burt" Kelsey Memorial Fund. Stories, condolences and thoughts may be shared with the family on the funeral home Web site, www.Fullertonfh.com .
Burt was born on February 16, 1922, in Mason City, the son of Wilbur and Elva (Burton) Kelsey. He grew up in and was educated in Rudd. Burt was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served during World War II on the submarine the U.S.S. Saury. He had lived most all of his life in Rudd. Burt was united in marriage to Karol Field on Feb. 9, 1974, in Dike, Iowa.
Burt throughout the years had been employed at White Farm Implement in Charles City. He had been a school bus driver, owned and operated Kelsey Oil Co. and Farmer's Co-op, worked at Hoover's Hatchery and opened a Laundromat, all in Rudd. He had also been an independent block layer and cement worker. He was a lover of animals, especially draft horses. He enjoyed going to horse sales and parades, playing cards and was an avid fan of Iowa Hawkeye basketball.
Burt was a member of the Rudd United Methodist Church and the Lions Club, and was a volunteer fireman, all in Rudd. He was also a member of the Iowa Draft Horse Association and the Percheron Association of America. Burt was inducted into the Draft Horse Hall of Fame in 2001.
Burt will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. Grateful for having had the privilege of sharing in Burt's life are his wife, Karol Kelsey of Rudd; his two children, Mike (Nancy) Kelsey of Rudd and Karol Burks of Charles City; stepson, Bryan (Kathy) Hobbs of Rudd; three grandchildren, Yvonne Burks of Charles City, Jamie Burks of Shawnee, Kan., and Jeremy Hobbs of Rockford; and one great-granddaughter, Mya Eckenrod of Charles City.
Burt was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Elva (Burton) Kelsey; his first wife, Mary Kelsey; an infant daughter, Karen Kelsey; and his sister, Louise Kelsey.
Fullerton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 401 Blunt St., Charles City, 641-228-4211. www.fullertonfh.com
[Published in the Globe Gazette online, 8/1/2009]
Floyd Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
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