John Woodrow Kelly

1919 - 2013

John Woodrow Kelly obituary, 1919-2013, Fremont, CA

BORN

1919

DIED

2013

FUNERAL HOME

Berge Pappas Smith Chapel of Angels Mortuary - Fremont

40842 Fremont Boulevard

Fremont, California

John Kelly Obituary

John Woodrow Kelly
August 26, 1919 - September 1, 2013
Resident of Fremont
Long time Fremont resident John Woodrow Kelly died September 1, 2013. He was 94 years old. John was born on August 26, 1919 to Georgina M. and John C. Kelly, in Oakland, California.
John had a life-long love of all things "mechanical" which he inherited from his father, and an innate sense of how things worked. He could fix anything. In his working career he was a cabinet maker at Walstad Cabinet shop in Oakland; following WWII he was a machinist for the Besler Corporation in Oakland (maker of row crop sprayers and the world's first steam powered airplane), then in the early 1950's he moved into the sales of agricultural equipment for Besler. John and his wife, Mary, partnered with a friend to open Kelly's Rentals and Sales, a garden supply and home improvement tool rental company in Fremont, in 1956. They were pioneers in the do-it-yourself movement. They began with only the tools from their garage to get the business started. Subsequently, during the nearly thirty years of family ownership, Kelly's grew to include larger equipment rental as well as delivery of ready mix concrete and rock products; the concrete and rock portion of the business remains active today under other ownership.
John joined the US Army in June 1943; he served as a sound ranger for Battery A 288th Field Artillery Observation Battalion. His primary service was in Germany and the Belgian Ardennes during WWII, including the Battle of the Bulge in late 1944. (Military sound ranging uses the triangulation of sound to locate enemy armament and facilitate its destruction.) It was during his Army training at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey that he met and fell in love with his sound-ranging instructor, Mary M. Grieser of New York. They were married in 1946. He and Mary (deceased) had three children who survive him: Margaret Vinson (Tom) of Piedmont, CA, John C. Kelly (Kathy) of Palm Harbor, FL and William A. Kelly (Allisen) of Palmdale, CA and grandchildren Michael Patrick and Lauren Elizabeth. John is survived by his loving wife Isabel E. Kelly to whom he was wed in 1992, her daughter Patricia Galli (Albert) of Fairfield, CA and Pat's sons Michael Galli (Carol) of Davis, CA and Peter Galli of Fairfield, CA; Isabel's daughter, Linda Garcia, preceded him in death.
His family and friends were truly blessed to have had him in their lives. Visitation will be Thursday, September 12th from 5:00-8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. vigil at Berge-Pappas-Smith Chapel of the Angels, 40842 Fremont Blvd, Fremont. A mass celebrating John's life will be held at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 43148 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94539 at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 13th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to your favorite charity, in John's memory.

Published by Inside Bay Area News on Sep. 6, 2013.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Memories and Condolences
for John Kelly

Not sure what to say?





1 Entry

Our prayers go to the family, you will be missed Uncle John.
Dan, Brenda Garcia and family.

Dan Garcia

September 6, 2013

Showing 1 - 1 of 1 results

Make a Donation
in John Kelly's name

Please consider a donation as requested by the family.

Memorial Events
for John Kelly

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Berge Pappas Smith Chapel of Angels Mortuary - Fremont

40842 Fremont Boulevard, Fremont, CA 94538

How to support John's loved ones
Commemorate a cherished Veteran with a special tribute of Taps at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.

Read more
Attending a Funeral: What to Know

You have funeral questions, we have answers.

Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?

What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?

Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?

We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.

Read more
Resources to help you cope with loss
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Estate Settlement Guide

If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.

Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast

Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.

Read more
The Five Stages of Grief

They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.

Read more
Ways to honor John Kelly's life and legacy
How to Write an Obituary

Need help writing an obituary? Here's a step-by-step guide...

Read more
Obituary Templates

These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.

Read more
Obituary Examples

You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.

Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?

Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.

Read more