John Francis Kelly

John (Jack) Francis Kelly, MD, 84, of Fort Dodge, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 10, 2014, in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 15th at 10:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and 10:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church with Rev. Dan Rupp officiating at the Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will be in Corpus Christi Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be on Friday, February 14th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. followed by a Rosary, all at the funeral home. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Sarah Kelly of Fort Dodge; a brother, D. Michael Kelly and his wife Sherry of Plano, TX; five sons: Scott Kelly and his wife Julie of Leawood, KS; Daniel Kelly; Michael Kelly and his partner Amanda Schwartz; Patrick Kelly and his wife Jennifer, all of Des Moines; John Kelly of Polk City; and a daughter, Clare Kelly of Des Moines. In addition, Dr. Kelly has 4 grandchildren: Mark Kelly, Katherine (Kate) Kelly, Mary Kelly, and Matthew Kelly. He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Marie (Kelm) Kelly, and a sister, Ann M. Kelly. John Francis Kelly was born on July 2, 1929, in Fort Dodg...[more]

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As a young boy he loved to investigate anything with an engine - cars and motorcycles - but especially trains. His love affair with the railroad continued into his adulthood when he enjoyed spending his free time model railroading, snapping pictures of trains and voraciously reading about the American railroad. He attended schools in Fort Dodge and graduated from Corpus Christi High School. He enrolled at Creighton University and graduated in 1954 with his medical degree. Dr. Kelly completed his internship at St. Catherine Hospital in Omaha, NE, and in 1955, he returned to Fort Dodge and joined the practice of Dr. Otto N. Glesne. From 1957 to 1959, John served with the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Greenland. On August 21, 1961, he was united in marriage to Sarah Scott and the couple made their home in Fort Dodge. He practiced General and Family Medicine in Fort Dodge at the Medical Arts Building on 2nd Avenue North with his longtime partners Drs. Dan Cole and John Birkett. Dr. Kelly retired from medical practice in 1999 after a 45 year career caring for patients in Fort Dodge and in the surrounding communities. Dr. Kelly is a lifetime member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and was awarded the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. He was a staff member of Trinity Regional Hospital and a member of Holy Trinity Parish. In retirement he enjoyed model railroading, tinkering with cars and motorcycles, working in the yard, attending daily Mass and spending time with his family. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.