Kelly Sue Gutierrez

1963 - 2024

Kelly Sue Gutierrez

June 26, 1963 – February 3, 2024

Kelly Sue Gutierrez, 60, of Columbus, died peacefully Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Brookstone Acres in Columbus. Funeral Service Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 10:00 AM Immanuel Lutheran Church rural Rising City Rev. David Palomaki, Officiating. Visitation, Tuesday 4:00-7:00 at Kracl Funeral Chapel in David City. Visitation Wednesday 9:00-10:00 AM at the church, Committal in the church cemetery. Special meal at VFW Hall 2720-23rd Street in Columbus. Memorials in care of the family for future designation

Kelly Gregory Gutierrez was born June 26, 1963 in Hebron, NE to Ralph and Lois Gregory. The family moved to rural Rising City when she was one year old. Kelly attended the Immanuel Lutheran country school from kindergarten to 3rd grade before transferring to David City elementary and high school. She graduated in 1981 and attended Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln. Her love of family brought her back home where she worked alongside her father in his dental practice in David City until 1992. She then moved to Columbus and worked in the dental field as an honor to her father for several years.

Kelly worked in the insurance field for a period of time but her love for working with patients and helping people was her final calling while working at East Central District Health Department where she was the lead employee in the billing department for 14 years. She loved helping people. She traveled extensively with family and friends to numerous tropical locations (Jamaica, the Bahamas, Belize Mexico, and her favorite six times, Hawaii)

In May 1992 she met the love of her life, Jack Gutierrez and the two were married for 26 years. The attraction for each other was their love of fast-pitch softball and they were drawn to each other at the Garrison softball field where Jack was a pitcher on the men's team and Kelly a pitcher on the women's team. After a long courtship they were married on May 23, 1998 in Lincoln, NE. Kelly loved baking and cooking for her family and friends and in the summer months she took pride canning her mother in law Jennie's famous salsa recipe… usually canning over 100 jars. FYI: Kelly never ate any of the salsa (too hot) Her true happiness was spending time with her beloved Jack at softball games, his basketball games at CCC and hosting family and friends at many gatherings. Her deep love for her grandchildren (Josefina and Isabella) and her many nieces and nephews (her kids) were special in her big heart which are visible today in the front row with the six pallbearers (nephews) wearing Aunt Kelly's favorite color Pink. She always told her nieces and nephews "You are my heart"

Kelly was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Lois Gregory; mother and father in law Primo and Jennie Gutierrez, grandparents Hank and Hilda Hoeft, Walter and Tressie Gregory brother in law John Helgoth and her first and special god son Derek Helgoth.

Kelly is survived by husband Jack, children Drew (Jessie) Gutierrez (grandchildren Josephina and Isabella Gutierrez) son, Jake Gutierrez; daughter, Jaisa Gutierrez. Brother, Kevin (Lori - Kellys very special friend) Gregory, sisters, Kristie (Mike) Lampkin, Kim Gonzalez. Sisters-in-law Kathleen and Judy Gutierrez, brothers-in-law Robert and William (Catherine) Gutierrez, many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Kracl Funeral Chapel of David City in charge of arrangements