Eugene "Gene" Francis Kelly

Eugene F. Kelly, 98, of Fort Dodge, passed away Saturday, December 10, 2016, at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, December 15, 2016 at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home and then a Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church with Msgr. Kevin McCoy officiating. Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery with full military rites provided by the VFW Post 1856 and the United States Navy Honor Guard. A visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with a K of C Rosary at 6:30 p.m. Gene is survived by his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" Kelly; children, Margaret Kelly of Minneapolis, MN; Mary Kelly of Lexington, KY; Thomas Kelly of Rochester, MN; Patricia Kikendall of San Diego, CA; David Kelly of St. Cloud, MN; Ann Kelly-Regan of St. Louis Park, MN; 13 grandchildren and sister, Marguerite Kyle of Keller, TX. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rita (Burnham) Kelly; sister, Marie Stucker; and brother, John J. Kelly. Eugene Francis Kelly was born August 16, 1918 in Waterloo. In 1936, Gene graduated from Saint Mary's High School in Waterloo. He then attended the Iowa S...[more]

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e Teachers College for one year. In 1941, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served on the USS Alabama and USS St. Paul, until 1946. Gene was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hayes on July 18, 1949 at St. Mary's Church in Waterloo. The Kelly family moved to Fort Dodge in 1964. Gene retired from the Illinois Central Railroad in 1982, after 42 years of service. Gene was a member of Holy Trinity Parish, the Knights of Columbus and N.A.R.V.R.E. He also attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.