KELLY, Christopher 1974 - 2012

KELLY, ELLIOTT, HOLMES, SHOEMAKER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/22/2012 at 12:44:32

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, August 17, 2012
Page 8

Christopher KELLY

Christopher KELLY, 38, died of cancer on Wednesday, August 15, 2012.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, August 20, 2012 at the West Des Moines United Methodist Church, 720 Grand Avenue, West Des Moines, Iowa, with Rev. Dr. Wesley S. K. Daniel and Rev. John Augspurger officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 4-7 pm on Sunday. A private burial wil take place at Glendale Cemetery prior to the service.

Chris was born in Fairfield, Iowa, April 29, 1974. He grew up in Fairfield, graduated from Fairfield High School in 1992 and on July 26, 1997, married fellow FHS graduate, Jennifer Jane ELLIOTT. They are the parents of three children, Claire Elizabeth, 11; Grace Catherine, 8; and Henry Christopher, 2.

Chris graduated from Wayne State College with a degree in business and information technology and he went on and received his MBA from Drake University in 2002.

Chris joined Allied Insurance in Des Moines in 1997. Over the next 15 years his career with Allied took him to Michigan, Maryland, and Connecticut. He most recently served as Associate Vice President of Sales in the Des Moines Regional Office.

He was active in civic affairs in every place of residence, including membership on the Board of Directors of the Urban League of Greater Hartford and a leadership role at the Congregational Church of Haddam, CT.

Chris loved sports and made life-long friends among his many teammates and coaches. He was a four sport letter winner at Fairfield High School and joined the Wayne State Wildcats football team as a wide receiver. He played basketball and softball in leagues around the Des Moines area. He enjoyed playing golf with friends and business associates. He was a passionate Iowa Hawkeye fan and no matter where he and his family were living, often traveled to Kinnick Stadium and to venues around the country to see the Hawks play.

Chris was also very interested in history, politics and current events.

Chris received a Stage IV diagnosis in April, 2005. With great perseverance and determination he went on to attain some of his proudest personal and professional accomplishments since that day. He always thought of himself as a survivor and worked tirelessly to be productive and to achieve his goals. He did not think of the last seven years as a courageous battle, but rather as a life well-lived.

In addition to his wife and children, those left to remember Chris include his parents, Margaret KELLY of Fairfield, Ed and Sue KELLY-who is aboard the USSV Angel Louise, Dr. Charles and Marilyn HOLMES of Fort Madison and James ELLIOTT of Fairfield; brother, Matthew KELLY of Columbus, OH; brother-in-law Matthew ELLIOTT of Phoenix, AZ; grandmother, Nadine ELLIOTT of Spickard, MO and many other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Ed and Louise KELLY and Keith and Ethel SHOEMAKER.

Cards and remembrances may be sent to the family in Urbandale or Fairfield. Memorial contributions may be made to West Des Moines United Methodist Church or The Mayo Clinic Foundation.

"You enriched our lives and were an inspiration to us all. You will always be in our hearts. We love you."

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*Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. This material may NOT be copied and re-posted in any public venue such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without permission from The Fairfield Ledger ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

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