Lauren Keith Kelley 1928-2010

KELLEY, VAN OYEN, SMITH, LEWIS, BIRD, MCCOIG, WACKER, REYNOLDS, MINNE

Posted By: Shirley
Date: 10/31/2010 at 13:41:59

Afton Star Enterprise, Afton, Iowa
August 26, 2010

Lauren K. Kelley, 82 of Afton, died Saturday august 21, 2010 at the Afton Care Center in Afton. Services were 1 p.m. Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. Pastor Dwayne Henrichs officiated. burial at Greenlawn Cemetery.

Lauren Keith Kelley was born March 25, 1928 to Lloyd Henry Kelley and Flossie Ida May (Van Oyen) Kelley in Albion, Nebraska. He was educated in Nebraska. At the age of 19, his father passed away, and he took over raising and supporting his seven younger siblings.

Lauren was united in marriage to Esther Janette Smith on November 5, 1947, in Nebraska. they later divorced. On February 9, 1963, he was united in marriage to Marry Emma Lewis in Nebraska.

Lauren spent most of his life farming and ranching. He especially loved working with cattle and horses. In his young adulthood, he enjoyed riding broncos in the local Nebraska rodeos. He had many other occupations from time to time during his life, training thorough bred race horses, driving semi trucks and milking cows to name a few. His grandchildren all loved the stories told about his experiences, and he loved telling them.

Lauren is survived by a daughter, Janetta Bird (special friend Bob Smith of Columbus, Nebraska; two sons, Gary (wife Chris) Kelley of Thayer and Russell (wife Sharon) Kelley of Thayer; one stepson, Robert (wife Marilyn) Kelley of Weston, Nebraska; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and four step-great grandchildren; two sisters, Jean McCoig and Kathy (husband Dennis) Wacker of Grand Island, Nebraska; one brother, Gary Lee (wife Carol) Kelley of Omaha and two brothers-in-law Ron Reynolds of Grand Island and Lowell Minne of Denver.

Lauren was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Yvonna, Clairetta and Addie; a brother Derald; and his wife Mary.