Obituaries : John M. Kelley

VINTON:

John Matthew Kelley, 92, died Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at his residence following an extended illness.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 9, 2015 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. 6th St. in Vinton with Roger Uthoff officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the Urbana Cemetery in Urbana. Friends may register at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until service time on Monday. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established for the Vinton Library and Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 of Vinton.

John was born November 15, 1922 at Eldora to John William and Laura (Adams) Kelley and graduated from Vinton's Lincoln High School in 1941 and then attended Indiana State College for two years.

From November 7, 1942 until April 26, 1946 John served his nation in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the rank of Corporal. He was a member of the Army Air Force Band. He was an active member of Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 of Vinton and became the Post Bugler in 1984.

Music was an important part of John's life. He played for dances, Senior Centers, and at Senior Dining Sites. He enjoyed playing Trumpet in the Vinton Community Band. He often said making music gave him the most satisfaction in life.

Prior to his retirement in 1985 he had been employed at LeFebure Corp. in Cedar Rapids as a sheet metal fabricator for twenty-eight and a half years.

On September 23, 1960 he was united in marriage to Mardene Frances Hawley in Vinton.

In addition to his wife, Mardene, he is survived by his son, Jerry Kelley of Cedar Rapids, and his sister, Margaret Cashman of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Wayne Kelley and his sisters, Evelyn Wenner, Thelma Hays, Maxine Bantz, and Joyce Witte.

Condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com