Contact:Tony Barnhart clecron@voyager.net

William D. Kelly

Published Saturday, May 26, 2007 1:23:27 PM Central Time

EWEN, Mich. -- William D. Kelly, 73, of Ewen, died on Thursday, May 24, 2007, at his home.

He was born Jan. 16, 1934, in Ironwood, son of the late Lynus and Pauline (Newton) Kelly. Bill was valedictorian of the Watersmeet High School Class of 1951 and attended Gogebic Community College and Michigan State University.

In 1953, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1955, he transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps and entered flight school. He served in both Korea and Vietnam and retired from the Marine Corps as a Lt. Colonel on Aug. 31, 1977. Bill spent the majority of his military career as a search and rescue helicopter pilot.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ewen, American Legion Post 41 in Ewen, American Legion Post 417 in Watersmeet, Henry A. Holappa VFW Post 9345 in Bruce Crossing and the Marine Corps League.

Survivors include his wife, Bea, Ewen; a son, Michael, Healdsburg, Calif.; two daughters, Rhonda (Bob) Bessen and Jackie Kelly, both of Ewen; three grandchildren, Micah Boyle, Corpus Christi, Texas, Wayne Langston, Ewen, and Hailey Macias, Ewen; three brothers, Lynus D. Jr., Land O'Lakes, Wis., Tom (Sharon), Pulaski, Wis., and Dave (Mary Pat), Watersmeet; two sisters, Kathleen (Frank) Kuchevar, Watersmeet, and RoseMary (David) Berkmyre of Gaithersburg, Md.; four stepchildren, Roger LaBine, Wayne LaBine, Paul LaBine and Teny Labine-Fox.

He was preceded in death by a son, William D.

Mass of Christan Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 29, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ewen with the Rev. Chacko Kakany officiating.

Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Ewen.

Military honors will be accorded by American Legion Post 41, VFW Post 9345, the Marine Corps League and the Ontonagon County Veterans Association.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 28, from 5 until 8 p.m. EDT at the Wandersee Funeral Home in Bruce Crossing.