"My prayers and sympathy to the family. Tom Kelley was a great Christian man and a wonderful supporter of Corpus Christi School. I remember him so well when I was principal of the school and we had good visits. God bless you all, Sister Mary Catherina Walsh, BVM"
In loving memory of
Thomas X Kelley
September 18, 1923 - May 3, 2018
Thomas X. Kelley, 94, of Fort Dodge, passed away Thursday, May 3, 2018 at his home.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and then a Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. A visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at a later date at Corpus Christi Cemetery; T.X.'s wishes were to donate his body to the University of Iowa for further research.
Thomas X. Kelley was born to W. Thomas and Frances Kelley on September 18, 1923. He attended elementary school at Duncombe and Corpus Christi Elementary.
His beloved uncle, Father Rob Kelley was the President of Regis High school in Denver Colorado so he followed his brother and sister in the family tradition of attending this boarding High School in Denver. He began college at Regis College before volunteering to serve in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945. Tom saw action in the European Theater during World II. After the war, he completed his education under the G.I. Bill of Rights and earned a law degree from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. He briefly considered becoming a lawyer and passed the board exam to practice in Iowa. He became associated with Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York in its Des Moines office. Returning to Fort Dodge in 1951, he joined the insurance agency his father, the late Tom Kelley, established in 1917. In 1952, he and his brother, Robert bought Kelley Insurance Agency from their father. He retired after 37 years.
He married Mary Virginia Ottoson on October 1, 1949. They made their home in Fort Dodge in 1951. Tom was active in Holy Trinity Parish. He was a Life Member of the Knights of Columbus, a Paul Harris Fellow of the Fort Dodge Rotary Club, and member of numerous other organizations.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ginnie Kelley, who died February 11, 2011; his parents, Frances and Tom Kelley, stepmother, Mary Kelley; brothers, Jim and Bob Kelley and brother in-law, Chuck McCrea.
He is survived by his children, Patricia Kelley of Chicago, Illinois; David Kelley of Madison Wisconsin; Peggy (Craig) Murphy of Fort Dodge; Sheila (Mark) Osman of Northbrook, Illinois; sisters, Jean Kelley, SL of Louisville Kentucky, Loy McCrea of Las Vegas, Nevada; sister-in-law, Ginny Kelley of Fort Dodge, Iowa; grandchildren, Sean (Emily) Murphy and Megan (Tyler) Johnson; Erin (Andy) Kelley Bober, Sara (Terry) Fraser, Katie (Eric) Ennocenti; Thomas Osman and Kevin (Meagan) Sullivan Osman; great-grandchildren, Laila, Lucy and Leah Johnson; Seamus X; Maeve Murphy; Hattie and Cleo Fraser; and Avery Ennocenti.
Memorials may be left to Unity Point Hospice, Holy Trinity Parish or St Edmond Catholic School System.
Tributes
"It has been an honor to know TX. I have kept in touch with since my time in Fort Dodge in 1967. His disposition was always cheerful. He touched so many lives. My condolences toPatty, Dave, Peggy and Sheila and their families.- Paul & Bernadette Yarbrough"
"Mr. Kelley (I could never call him anything but that) had the way of always making you feel like he had been waiting to see or talk to you, and that what was going on in your world was the most important thing for him to hear at that time. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone and a strong faith in God you felt just by being around him. We will miss him for so many reasons. "
"My condolences and sympathy to the Kelley family, your dad was one of a kind and will be missed. Rick Mashek"
"To the entire Kelley families, Sending my prayers of comfort to you. His bright spirit is with you always. Beth Lipschultz"
"To the entire Kelley families, Sending my prayers of comfort to you. His bright spirit is with you always. Beth Lipschultz"
"I always knew Mr. Kelley to be a true gentleman, a devoted spouse and a loving father/grandfather. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Sending love and sympathy to Sheila/Mark, Pat, Dave, Peg/Craig, and to your extended families. "
"To all in the Kelley Family - my sympathies and condolences. What a fine man. Always welcoming and generous to all. God Bless. Fr. Bill Schreiber"
"Tom was one of the nicest gentlemen I known in my life. I enjoyed seeing him & Ginny every Christmas to make bows for their wreaths or help him pick the perfect poinsettia for the love of his life. I'm so glad I got to see him when you were at the greenhouse just a few days ago. Thank you for bringing him. My love and prayers to you. Sharon Coppinger"
"We are so sorry for your loss. Heaven has gained a wonderful new citizen. He was such a friendly and personable man. He always asked questions about others. Interested in our family and our extended family. He was so thoughtful, one always knew he really cared. We will be thinking of all of you at this sad time. The Gascho?s "
"Never a finer man or example of love one another. I had the privilege of meeting TX 50 years ago as he was a good friend of my Dad's and his daughter & husband are my son's Godparents. TX was one of a kind and his was a life well-lived. My sympathies to Sheila/Mark, Peg/Craig, Pat, Dave and the extended family. An end of an era."
"Our deepest sympathies to Tom?s family....we always enjoyed our visits!"