Obituary of Joseph Eugene Kelly

Joseph E. Kelly Funeral services for Joe will be 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. Pence-~Reese Funeral Home in Newton has been entrusted with the arrangements. A visitation with the family will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 15, at the church, with a 7 p.m. Vigil service. As an expression of sympathy, memorials in Joe's name are being designated to St. Jude's Children Hospital, Hospice of Central Iowa or Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Joseph Eugene Kelly, 86, the son of Charles William and Elizabeth (Simmons) Kelly, was born October 17, 1923 in Grinnell, Iowa. A longtime resident of the Grinnell and Newton areas, he graduated from the Grinnell Senior High, Class of 1940. He went on to serve his country with the US Navy, during World War II. On March 5, 1947, Joe was united in marriage with Evelyn Beth Coop in Kansas City, Kansas. Joe was employed as a butcher for area Super-Value Stores, and later as a custodian at Newton Manufacturing. He had devoted his life to his wife and family, and was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. He enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, following the Iowa Hawkeye football team and reading Popular Mechanic's magazine. Joe passed away at his home in Newton on Saturday morning, June 12, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 53 plus years, Evelyn Beth on Nov. 2, 2000; his two brothers: Raymond and Jerry; and a sister Evelyn. Those left to honor Joe's memory include his daughters: Cynthia Kelly of Des Moines, IA, Theresa (Rick) Stewart and Lisa Cummins, all of Newton; his sons: Patrick Kelly of Davenport, IA, Michael (Brenda) Kelly of Grand Ledge, MI, Timothy Kelly of Newton and James (Finley Chunn) Kelly of Orlando, FL; his ten grandchildren: John, Ryan, Paul, Nick, Sean, Scott, Christina, Rob, Kati and Jenny; his great-grandson and great-granddaughter: Caden and Ava; his sisters: Dorothy Wheeler of Newton and Bernhardt Bogaards of Pella, IA; many nieces and nephews; and his many good friends.