Kelley, Roger E. (1935-2013)
KELLEY, GORMAN, BOE, JOHNSON, SMIT
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/8/2013 at 13:48:28
Roger E. Kelley
(January 29, 1935 - June 19, 2013)U.S. Veteran, Roger E. Kelley, 78, of Lake Mills, Iowa, died on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at the Muse Norris Hospice Unit in Mason City, Iowa.
Roger Eugene Kelley was born on January 29, 1935, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Daniel and Loretta (Gorman) Kelley. Baptized at St. John’s Church, he attended school in Austin before joining the Navy. A Seaman 3rd class, he served in the Korean War on the U.S.S. Missouri. On board, he helped with the food service and loaded guns below deck. During this time, he also traveled to Korea, Japan, Hawaii, and Florida. Very proud to have served his country, he shared his war time stories with many.
On February 19, 1968, Roger married Sandra Boe in Mason City, Iowa. Four children were born to this union: Patty, Daniel, Shannon, and Tammy. Roger was a member of the New Life Church in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
After his military service, Roger attended training in St. Paul. For many years, he worked as a laborer for Universal Circuits (Die Electric) in Lake Mills.
After retiring, Roger especially enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, who meant the world to him. He found a great deal of pleasure in watching them grow and develop. Moreover, he had a wonderful sense of humor that all that knew him could appreciate. Indeed, he was always sharing story after story with family and friends.
Roger also liked going on family fishing vacations in Minnesota, dancing, and collecting Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and Ninja Turtles memorabilia (under the influence of his grandchildren) as well as building small scale villages and doing various projects around the house.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Sandra, of Lake Mills, Iowa; his children, Patty Kelley, of Shakopee, Minnesota, Daniel Kelley, of Mason City, Iowa, Shannon, and her husband, Chuck Johnson, of Richmond, Virginia, and Tammy Smit, of Joice, Iowa; his grandchildren, Christopher, Aubrey, Tyler, Destiny, Isaac, Andrea, Michelle, Jessica, and Kayla; and eight great grandchildren; his brother, Richard ‘Johnny’ Kelley, of Austin, Minnesota, and a special cousin and partner-in-mischief, Jeanette; as well as many nieces and nephew, cousins, and other relatives and friends, who feel graced to have known him.
Roger is preceded in death by his parents; his nephew, Tim Kelley; and his sister-in-law, Tilly Kelley.
A Memorial Service will be at 2:00 PM, Sunday afternoon, June 23, 2013, at the New Life Christian Church, 1705 Marshall Street SE, Albert Lea, MN 56007, Elder Bob Snow officiating. Military rites will be performed by the Albert Lea American Legion Post #56 and the Albert Lea VFW Post #447. Family will greet friends during a visitation/gathering between 5:00 and 7:00 PM, Saturday evening, June 22, 2013, at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, IA 50450. Inurnment will take place at a later date.
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