John Rishard (Skeex) Kelley was born on February 5, 1921 in Davenport, Iowa. He passed away on December 3, 2009 in Omaha, Nebraska. John served in the Army during World War II as a Sergeant at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland where he was in charge of electrical maintenance. John retired from the electrical engineering and construction field of General Electric in 1982 after 30 years of service. His career with GE took the family to Madison, WI, Elmhurst, IL, Omaha, NE and Lombard, IL. In 1985, John and his wife left Lombard to retire in Omaha and use it as their base for RV traveling. They were charter members of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) and John was one of the founding members of the Heartland Travelers. Throughout his life, all you had to do was ask and John would use his many talents and extensive tool collection to build, fix, design, electrify or plumb anything. He built an apartment building, two HO-gauge railroads, an elaborate dollhouse that included lights, many pieces of furniture, decks, cabinets, lamps, etc. He was truly a handy man and took pleasure in making things for his family. John is preceded in death by his parents Benjamin and Josephine, and brother Thomas W. Kelley. His wife of 62 years, Regene (Wolters) Kelley, preceded him in death in 2004. He is survived by his children: Karen Ridder (Robert) of Omaha, Timothy (Joan) of Grass Lake, MI, Anna Kania (Richard) of Omaha and Pamela Williams (Harold) of Lake Tapps, WA; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Family will receive friends, Sunday 1-3:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service to follow at 3 p.m., West Center Chapel. Memorial Mass Monday, 10:30 a.m. St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church, 16701 S St. Private interment, Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials to St. Stephen the Martyr.
HEAFEY-HEAFEY-HOFFMANN DWORAK & CUTLER Mortuaries and Crematories 7805 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (402) 391-3900
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