Kelvin Kay MOELLER

MOELLER, JURGENS, MORRIS, ROCKOW, MURRY, MCINROY, SORENSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/27/2008 at 10:41:50

July 11, 2008
Northfield News, Minnesota

Kelvin Kay Moeller, age 71, of Northfield, died on Monday July 7, 2008, at his home in rural Northfield, after a year long battle with small-cell lung cancer. He was surrounded with his wife and three daughters at the time of his death. Kelvin was born on July 8, 1936, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Theodore and Gladys (Jurgens) Moeller of Waterloo. He graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1954. He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956, stationed at Scofield Army Base in Hawaii. From 1956-1958, Kelvin attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he met Doris Johnson of Dows, Iowa. The couple was united in marriage on Aug. 17, 1958. Kelvin and Doris moved to Rantoul, Ill., so that Kelvin could attend the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. He graduated in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Kelvin was employed by Byerly Aviation from 1961-1963 in Peoria, Ill., as a charter pilot and ground school instructor. From 1963-1966 Kelvin served as a ground school and flight instructor at the Institute of Aviation, University of Illinois, and also completed his Masters of Education degree in 1966. Kelvin and Doris moved their family to Inver Grove Heights, Minn., in 1966 upon his employment as a commercial airline pilot for Northwest Airlines. During his 27 years at Northwest, in addition to flying, some of Kelvin’s duties included writing flight curriculum, ground school simulator instruction and being a check pilot. Especially significant in his career was a special assignment as a flight crew co-pilot on the Electra airplane for Sen. Edmund Muskie from 1971-1972, as the senator campaigned for the U.S. presidency.

Kelvin and Doris realized their dream by purchasing a farm in 1972, moving with their daughters to rural Northfield. Kelvin and Doris were actively involved as volunteer 4-H leaders for over 25 years. Kelvin served as Rice County Sheep Project leader, Rice County Extension Committee member, Rice County Building and Maintenance Committee member, Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association member, and several sheep producer organizations. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and the Airlines Pilot Association (ALPA). Upon retirement from Northwest in 1993, Kelvin and Doris purchased their first of several motor homes. They spent extensive time each year traveling, in particular to Wyoming and Texas, as well as camping with their children and grandchildren. Kelvin enjoyed working on the farm and designing and remodeling numerous home, barn and motor home projects. To his delight his daughter Krista rented and then purchased the adjacent farm property in 1999. Kelvin was also an avid reader and photographer and loved fishing. His wonderful sense of humor, lively discussions and entertaining personality will always be remembered by family and especially his friends.

Kelvin is survived by his wife, Doris; daughters Brenda (Bill) Morris of Albert Lea, Minn., Debra (John) Rockow of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Krista Moeller Murry of Northfield; grandchildren, Matthew, Jacob and Sara; brother, Robert (Janet) McInroy of Spooner, Wis.; sister-in-law, Wanda (Robert) Sorenson of Middletown, Md.; nieces, Shelly Sorenson of Houston, Texas, and Sandy Sorenson of Maryland. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Gladys Moeller.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2008, at the United Methodist Church in Northfield. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 13 at the Bierman Funeral Home in Northfield. Funeral arrangements by the Bierman Funeral Home of Northfield.