KELLEY, Thomas John 1929-2013

KELLEY, GALLAGHER, ARNDT

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/19/2013 at 01:16:26

Thomas J. ‘Tom’ Kelley

#1:

Nora Springs, Iowa — Thomas J. "Tom" Kelley, 83, of Nora Springs, died Thursday, January 17, 2013, at the Nora Springs Care Center in Nora Springs.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 22, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. John Gossman as Celebrant. Interment will follow in Park Cemetery, Nora Springs, where military honors will be provided by members of the American Legion H.D.S. Post No. 449 of Nora Springs.

Visitation will be held Monday evening Jan. 21, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. with a Scriptural Wake service beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Tom’s name in care of his family.

Sheckler Colonial Chapel, 114 N. Hawkeye Ave., Nora Springs. 641-729-2210, Colonial Chapels.com.

Source: Mason City Globe Gazette, Jan. 19, 2013
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#2:

Thomas J. “Tom” Kelley, 83, of Nora Springs, died Thursday (January 17, 2013) at the Nora Springs Care Center in Nora Springs.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday (January 22, 2013) at Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 N. Adams Ave., Mason City, with the Rev. John Gossman as Celebrant. Interment will follow in Park Cemetery, Nora Springs, where military honors will be provided by members of the American Legion H.D.S. Post No. 449 of Nora Springs.

Visitation will be held Monday evening (January 21, 2013) from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a Scriptural Wake service beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Should friends desire, memorials may be left in Tom’s name in care of his family.

Thomas John Kelley was born on March 12, 1929 in Dougherty, Iowa the son of William A. and Mary C. (Gallagher) Kelley. He attended and graduated from Nora Springs High School amongst the class of 1949.

Following his graduation Tom enlisted in the United States Army where served in healthcare at a hospital in Japan during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1952 and returned to Nora Springs.

On August 29, 1953 Tom was united in marriage to Phyllis Arndt at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mason City; together they would be blessed with two sons, Mike and John.

Tom farmed with his father for four years before beginning to drive truck for his brother, Bob, with Kelley Truck Line and then for Truman Motland. He then began working at Oliver White in Charles City where he would be employed as a tool grinder until the plant’s closing.

Following Tom’s retirement, he began working at his “dream job”; delivering Winnebago motor homes for Morgan Driveway. He was able to visit every state in the continental U.S. and complete four trips to Alaska during his deliveries.

Tom was a sports enthusiast and loved following his son’s and grandkids’ sporting events throughout the years. He was a member of the “chain gang” while his sons played football and loved cheering on the Chicago Cubs. He enjoyed riding horses and with his entire family was a member of the former Saddle Club in Nora Springs.

In earlier years Tom and Phyllis loved camping, playing cards, and attending dances at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.

Being 100% Irish, Tom was immensely proud of his Irish Heritage. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Mason City for over 55 years, and a member of the American Legion.

Those grateful in sharing in Tom’s life are his wife, Phyllis, Nora Springs; sons, Mike (Glennis) Kelley, Nora Springs, and John (Joyce) Kelley, Nora Springs; grandchildren, Sarah and Wayne LaCoste and their children, Sheridan and Mac, Abby Kelley, Maggie and Matt Pruin and their children, Ava, Jack, and Eddie, Kathleen and Brett Johns, Erin Kelley, and Matthew Kelley; brothers in law, Ted (Bev) Arndt, Jr., and Bruce Arndt; sisters in law, Marlys Kramm and Peggy (Jerry) Majewski; as well as many nieces and nephews and extended family members and many friends. Tom will also be missed by his many friends at the Nora Springs Care Center, and by the nurse and staff who took such magnificent care of him.

He is preceded in death by his parents; mother and father in law, Ted and Margaret Arndt, Sr.; siblings, Bob (Frances) Kelley, and Dorothy (Vern) Jacobsen; brothers in law, Harold Arndt and Morris Arndt; and sister in law, Kathy Arndt.

Source: Colonial Chapel Funeral Home website.
www.funeralhomemasoncity.com/

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