Mary D. Kelly

Mary D. Kelly, age 88, of Storm Lake, Iowa died August 30, 2015 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Varina, Iowa. Burial will follow in the St. Columbkille Cemetery. Visitation will take place Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 6-8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake with a rosary service at 6:30 p.m. and a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. Mary Darlene Biittner, the daughter of John and Catherine (Milefchik) Biittner was born in rural Fonda on September 1, 1926. Mary graduated from St. Columbkille High School in Varina in 1944. She was valedictorian of her class and was chosen as the May Queen that year. After high school, Mary attended the Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha, Nebraska. Afterwards, she worked in both Omaha and Pocahontas, Iowa. Mary was united in marriage to Edward Keith “Chuck” Kelly on February 1, 1951. They began farming near Varina, where they lived and raised their family. In addition to countless hours devoted to her boys and Chuck, Mary also worked as Assistant Postmaster in Varina, a job she really enjoyed. Mary served as Grand Regent of the Catholic Daughters of America and was a member of the Women’s Legion Auxiliary. She was the president of the Varina Public Library Board, a member of the Varina Rosary Maker’s Club, enjoyed quilting with the Freedom Quilters, and was very proud to be a Eucharistic Minister at St. Columbkille’s where she took communion to nursing homes in the area. Mary was a witty and whimsical lady who was a voracious reader and a very competitive card player. She was passionate about sports, especially Iowa basketball. She embraced technology, sending a daily email to her family and was constantly amazed at the things she could discover by googling them on her computer. When Mary was 59 years young, she decided to go sky diving. She did it, and loved it. She went a second time and loved it again, but promised Chuck, her worried husband, she would not do it again. She did, however, go hang-gliding over the Atlantic Ocean in Corolla, North Carolina at the age of 68. She also enjoyed airplane rides with Chuck in the Merri Dee from the “Varina International Airport”. Mary was preceded in death by her husband; two infant sons; grandson, Ryan Kelly; parents; brother, Oscar “Bud”; and two sisters: Ruth and Bonnie “Sister Rose Catherine”. Mary is survived by her sons: John (LaVeda) of Atlanta, Georgia; Mitch (Jean) of Glenwood, Iowa; Scott of Tucson, Arizona; and sister, Colleen (Lanny) Paul of Pocahontas, Iowa. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, four great grandchildren, brother-in-law, Francis (Jackie) Kelly of Varina, Iowa; and many special nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Mary D. Kelly

September 1, 1926 - August 30, 2015