Thomas Francis Kelly

Aberdeen - Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas Francis Kelly, 55, Aberdeen is 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Father Terry Anderson, Father J.P. Morgan, Father David Janes, Father Christopher Hughes and Father Charles Emezie, celebrants. Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16 at Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City, Iowa. Thomas died unexpectedly Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital. A wake and rosary will be at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 13 at Spitzer Funeral Home. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. Visitation will be 1 to 7 p.m. on Friday. A prayer service will be at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Sioux City, Iowa at 7 p.m. Sunday, Father Gerald Feierfeil officiating. Sioux City, Iowa arrangements by Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Thomas was born on Jan. 28, 1949, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Archie and Rose (Stabile) Kelly. He graduated from Heelan High School in 1967 and attended two years of college at Briar Cliff in Sioux City. He then transferred to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he completed his bachelor of fine arts in theatre degree in 1971 and received his master's degree in 1973. He married Mary Elizabeth Richer in Sioux City on June 26, 1982, at the Cathedral of the Epiphany. Tom taught language arts and directed drama at Aberdeen Central High School for 30 years. He started the Thespian Society for Drama, and lived well its motto “Act well your part, for there all the truth and honor lies.” He also started Images, an improvisational program designed to help children and young people make healthy choices. He served as a judge for state oral interpretation and the state one-act play contests. He was an enthusiastic and entertaining teacher whose professionalism, storytelling, knowledge and wit will be missed by both current and former students. Tom's interest in the theater extended to the community, where he was active as a board member of the Aberdeen Area Arts Council and the Aberdeen Community Theatre, having also served as its president when the Capitol Theatre building was purchased. In addition to these groups, Tom was a member of the Aberdeen Education Association, South Dakota Education Association and the National Education Association, and the Irish American Cultural Club. Tom loved to cook for people and participated in the Dacotah Prairie Museum's Ethnic Cooking Series. He was currently serving on the board of Natural Abundance. Tom was proud of his Italian-Irish heritage. He was always one to help others and put their welfare before his own. His compassion and generosity were appreciated by many. He was devoted to and very proud of his family and supported all of their activities. Tom was much beloved by all who knew him. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary Elizabeth Kelly of Aberdeen; one daughter, Rose Ann, a junior at the University of South Dakota; and one son, Kevin Robert, at home. He is also survived by one brother, James A. (Christine) Kelly and two sisters, Kathleen Quinn and Barbara (Randy) Kelly-Lange, as well as two aunts, Catherine Stabile, all of Sioux City, Angeline (Fred) Ashley of Sahvarita, Ariz.; one uncle, Nicholas (Joie) Stabile of Sioux City; and his in-laws, Robert Richer of North Sioux City, S.D., and Aberdeen, and Dorothy Richer of Elk Point, S.D. and Yuma, Ariz. Milos Micunovic, an exchange student from Serbia-Montenegro, is a guest in the Kelly home for the 2003-04 school year. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts, uncles and close friends. Casketbearers in Aberdeen will be Robert Wuertz, R. James Krueger, Rory King, Ken Heupel, Mike Flakus and Don Hall, all of Aberdeen, Tom Jones, Las Vegas, Nev., Frank Pope, Sioux Falls, Rod Tondreau, Sioux City, and Dr. Thoru Yamada, Iowa City, Iowa. Music will be provided by many special friends. A memorial fund has been established at the Aberdeen Community Theatre.