Obit: Kelley, John Arthur (1904 - 1976)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Kelley, Wickham, Riedel, Cole, Smith, Clark

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/01/1976

Kelley, John Arthur (31 May 1904 – 24 March 1976)

Funeral services were held Saturday from the Georgas-Gesche Funeral Home for John Arthur Kelley of 606 Ayers St., Neillsville, who died Wednesday, March 24, at the age of 71. The Rev. Gary Clark of the United Church of Christ officiated. Cremation was to follow.

John Kelley, the son of John, Sr., and Julia Wickham Kelley, was born May 31,1904, in Wonewoc. He received his education in Neillsville area schools and farmed in the Town of York until 1958 when he moved to Neillsville. Mr. Kelley worked for Boon Brothers Construction until 1970 when he retired because of failing health.

His marriage to the former Anita Riedel took place September 16, 1932, in Granton.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include four children, Anne Kelley of Milwaukee, Mrs. Franklin (Colleen) Cole of West Bend, William Kelley of Minneapolis, Mn., and John R. Kelley, Jr., of Friendship; and six grandchildren.

Among those attending the services were family members, relatives and friends from Milwaukee, West Bend, Minneapolis, Mn., Friendship, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Rapids, Spencer, Greenwood, Eau Claire, Alma Center and Granton.

Soloist Kendal Smith sang “How Great Thou Art” and “Softly and Tenderly.” Mrs. Elaine Smith was the organist.