Mildred June Kelley

Mildred June Kelley, age 91, of Moravia, passed away Thursday, September 4, 2025 at her home.
Mildred was born on October 14, 1933 in Taylor Township, Appanoose County, Iowa, the daughter of Leo and Mary (Burns) Thompson. She grew up in rural Mystic, Rathbun, Walnut City, where roads to Iconium are now under Lake Rathbun. She was a Moravia High School Class of 1951 graduate; then she worked as a switchboard operator. On December 23, 1951, Mildred married John Herschel Kelley in rural Blakesburg, IA. To this union, four daughters were born: Deborah, Diana, Brenda and Barbara.
Mildred and Herschel lived at rural Unionville, Iowa for 56 years before moving to Moravia in 2011. She took pride in caring for her family, home and garden. Before the blizzard of April 1973, she began a 10-year career at Chamberlains in Albia. She furthered her education at Indian Hills Community College, obtaining her CNA degree. Pursuing her passion for caregiving, she was an Appanoose County home health nurse and at Centerville's Golden Age, then as a CNA for the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital's long-term care (LTC) wing. Mildred retired from St. Joseph's LTC before it became MercyOne Medical Center in 2010.
Mildred was a long-time member of the Unionville, Iowa, United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women (UMW) where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school. She was a seamstress and a 4-H leader who was fond of learning new things. She and her husband enjoyed day excursions, road trips, an Alaskan trip and mystery bus trips. Mildred loved spending time with her family, especially her grandkids when they "stayed at the farm" for a week in the summer. She will be deeply missed by all who knew.
Left to cherish Mildred's memory are her husband of over 73 years, Herschel Kelley; her children, Deborah (David) McDow, Diana (Daryl) Pals, Brenda (Steve) Rooker, and Barbara Jones; seven grandchildren, Jeremy (Amanda) Kelley, Stephanie Allspach, Jordan (Rachel) Rooker, Curran (Marissa) Rooker, Patrick (Erin) Jones, Brody (Renae) Jones, and McKenzie (Matt) Glandorf; 10 great-grandchildren; 10 great-greatgrandchildren; her brother, Dale Thompson; her sisters-in-law, Nadine Dommer and Fern Horn; her brother-in-law, Dennis Kelley; as well as several nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Mildred was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Mary Thompson; her in-laws, John and Ida Kelley; her son-in-law, Randall Jones; and her siblings, David Thompson, Margaret Ruth Krusel, Russell Deverre Thompson, Kenneth Dwight Thompson, Mary Salter, and Donald Thompson.
Visitation will take place Sunday, September 14, 2025 at Thomas Funeral Home, 103 North John Street in Moravia, opening at 1:00PM, with the family greeting friends from 2:00PM-4:00PM. Funeral services will be held Monday, September 15, 2025, 10:30 am at Thomas Funeral Home, 103 North John Street, Moravia, Iowa with Pastor Daryl Pals officiating. Burial will follow the service at Hillcrest Cemetery in Moravia. Memorials have been established to the United Women in Faith (formerly UMW), and may be mailed to Thomas Funeral Home, ATTN: Kelley Family, 501 North 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
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