KELLEY, Frank 1876-1942

KELLEY, BOHL

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 8/3/2009 at 17:01:12

OSAGE, IOWA - Frank Kelley, 65, who with his brother, Sidney, conducted the Kelley Brothers dance band for 48 years, died of a heart attack here Friday.

The band toured Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and South Dakota until 10 years ago, when its engagements were confined to Iowa and Minnesota. The band never used a piano and Frank played a single action harp, purchased 43 years ago.

Another member, Ben Casey, has been with the band 46 years, and Rudolphe Lincke, 30 years.

Born in Missouri. Frank was born September 20, 1876, at St. Joseph, Missouri, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kelley, and came to Osage when he was a young man.

He married Ella Bohl March 11, 1897. In addition to his band he operated a truck farm.

Surviving besides his widow are two sons, Maurice, engaged in defense work in Newfoundland, and Merrill, Osage; three grandsons; four brothers: Sidney, Thomas, Sile and William, all of Osage; and a sister, Mrs. Stella Bohl, Thunder Hawk, South Dakota.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Shelledy Funeral Home here, Rev. Hobart
Grant, pastor of First Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Osage cemetery.

His son Maurice will attend the rites, coming as far as Chicago by plane.

[Waterloo Sunday Courier - Sunday, June 7, 1942]