Leonard Kiely

Leonard John Kiely Leonard John Kiely, 84, passed away on Friday, April 13, 2012, due to complications following hip surgery. He was born April 5, 1928, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Joseph and Martha Dahlman Kiely and christened at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Cleveland. He was preceded by both of his parents, his infant twin sisters, Leverne and Lenore, his brother Leroy Kiely, and first wife Barbara Davis. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen, daughters Donna Kiely and her partner, Jeff Dean, Lydia Wolf Menefee and husband Don, and step-son, George Dare Lovett III, his wife, Laura. Also surviving are grandchildren, Kenneth George Wolf III, Ian Edward Wolf, Sean Michael Wolf, George Dare Lovett IV, Houston Jake Lovett, and Travis Colt Lovett, three great-grand-children. Leonard grew up in the west side neighborhood of Old Brooklyn in Cleveland, Ohio, playing football and basketball, while graduating from West Tech High School in June, 1946. He then joined the US Army and was immediately shipped to Japan to assist with the re-construction efforts after WWII. After this enlistment ended, he tried to find work in Cleveland and soon rejoined the Army whereupon he made the U.S. Army basketball team playing throughout Europe and Australia. He continued his military career in the Army Infantry during the Korean war, seeing some of the most cruel and inclement fighting conditions of the 20th century. He returned to Ft. Hood in 1953, whereupon he volunteered to take the Army Language Assessment Test being selected to enter the military language school in Monterey, California. Stationed there for a year, he mastered the Chinese and Mandarin languages. During the following years and into the Viet Nam war, he served as an intelligence and covert enemy operations officer, training spies to cross into Northern Viet Nam and infiltrate enemy forces. In 1967 Leonard completed twenty years of service to our country, retiring from the US Army as Master Sergeant, while completing his college degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. At that time Leonard, his wife Barbara, and daughters Donna and Lydia, returned to central Texas. He was then hired by Supt. Noel Grisham to teach sixth grade at Round Rock Central Elementary (now Berkman Elementary). Later he moved to Round Rock Middle School (now C.D. Fulkes Middle) teaching social studies and coaching football, basketball, and track. In 1970 he was selected by Principal Robert Griffith to be Vocational Counselor at Round Rock High School. This assignment soon changed to assistant principal. After finishing his master's degree at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State), he applied for a principal position and was named principal at Berkman Elementary in 1976, the place where he first started. He truly loved working with teachers and the education of our children. He retired from the school district in June, 1992 with twenty-five years of RRISD service. Leonard married Mary Ellen Jenson Lovett on May 27, 1978 at Palm Valley Lutheran Church. He was an active member of the Round Rock Kiwanis and the local American Legion Post 447. Leonard's civic and church activities involved umpiring and President of the Round Rock Little League Baseball Association, announcing Round Rock High School "Fighting Dragon" football games, teaching CCE classes at St. Williams Catholic Church, ushering at Palm Valley Lutheran, serving on Palm Valley's Endowment Committee, and volunteering for Round Rock Caregivers, Hospice, and Meals on Wheels. Sidelined in 2010 with medical problems, he concentrated on enjoying movies, books, and weekends with Mary Ellen and kids on the family ranch in Hamilton, Texas. Leonard will always be remembered as a "tough old bird" and a true American Hero by his family and friends. He was a huge sports fan, attending his children's and grandchildren's softball, baseball, and football games whenever time would allow, always mentoring his children in the game of life. Leonard spent many Saturdays supporting the Baylor Bears with his wife Mary Ellen. He survived several difficult situations and medical procedures during his lifetime, never forgetting his strict Irish and German heritage and his Catholic school teachings. Visitation will be Monday, April 16, 6-8 p.m., at Beck Funeral Home, RM 620, Round Rock. Services will be Tuesday, April 17, at 4:00 p.m., at Palm Valley Lutheran Church, 2500 Palm Valley Blvd. in Round Rock. Interment will immediately follow in Palm Valley Lutheran Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Palm Valley Lutheran Memorial Fund, Children at Heart Ministries, or a charity of your choice.