Michael Kelly

Patrick Michael "Mad Dog" Kelly died June 16, 2010, at Alaska Regional Hospital.

A wake will be from 5-8 p.m. Monday at Twister Creek in Talkeetna.

Michael was born Jan. 1, 1949, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to John Kelly and Margaret Schnelle.

He graduated from Elder High School in 1967. He majored in Russian studies at the University of Cincinnati, intending to become an interpreter, but music called him. His first gig was at St. Lawrence Gridiron Club in 1965. He was a lifelong, full-time musician for 36 years.

Michael was the consummate entertainer; he lit up the stage. He began singing lead and picked up numerous instruments, but the bass guitar was where he shined.

In the late '60s, he started playing with Plum Wine, who shared the stage with major acts such as Janis Joplin, Hour Glass (Allman Brothers), and Jefferson Airplane. He loved to share stories of those times. He retired from playing full-time but kept his licks up part-time. Michael drew people from all walks of life. He made people feel special and loved to make them laugh.

He met his wife, Glenda, in 1984 and they were married on May 20, 1989, in Ormond Beach, Fla. They "dropped out of the straight life" and moved to Talkeetna in 2001. He began working for the Talkeetna Historical Museum in 2001 and became curator in 2005. He cared deeply for the museum and called his work his "legacy" for Talkeetna.

He is survived by his children, Delia Hoffman, Bridie Kelly, Tristan Hoffman and Janis Coryea; grandchildren, Jarod and Breann Hoffman; siblings, Jerry and Pam Rauen, Barb and Steve Beiderbeck and Nolan Mendenhall; and many "sons and daughters" in Talkeetna.

The family would like everyone to support health care reform. Michael worked hard his whole life, never wanting anything free, but went without treatment because of exorbitant health, drug and insurance costs. More and more people are losing everything and can't afford the care that may cure them, or if not cure, then maintain the quality of the life they have left.

Arrangements by Cremation Society of Alaska, www.alaskacremation.com.