NORMAL - Kenneth Richard Kellum, age 79, of Normal, IL, died at 2:19 PM on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington, IL.

A service celebrating his life will be held at a later date.

The family suggests memorials be made to Peoria Symphony Orchestra at www.peoriasymphony.org; Heartland Theater Company at www.heartlandtheater.org; or to the Kellum family to build a memorial bench on the Constitution Trail, where Kenneth loved to walk his dog.

Cremation arrangements are being handled by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, IL.

Kenneth was born December 6, 1944, in Tuscaloosa, AL, the son of George and Myrtie Gillion Kellum. He married Sara Schalk on July 26, 1990, in Elko, NV. She survives.

Also surviving are his three children: Scarlett (Steve Hood) Kellum, Sarasota, FL, Rachel Kellum, Santa Clara, CA, Emily Kellum, Ankeny, IA; one granddaughter, Eleanor Kellum Hood, Sarasota, FL; brother, John Kellum Sr., Gibsonia, PA; brother in-law, John Schalk, Bloomington, IL; his loving dog, Griffin; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents; six siblings; and his first wife, Patty.

Kenneth attended the University of Alabama where he obtained a PhD in mathematics. Roll tide! He enjoyed a thirty-five-year career at San Jose State University as a math professor, retiring in 2012.

Mathematics were always his passion; "Captain Calculus" tutored his six-year-old granddaughter over zoom calls.

He was a lover of all animals. Working with a cat rescue organization in California, he and his family fostered at least a hundred kittens for over an eight-year period.

Kenneth was a fast and aggressive driver, and he was always willing to drive his family wherever they needed to go, even if it was across the country.

He was a snappy dresser, told a splendid dad joke, and played a mean hand of cards.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Pantagraph on Dec. 21, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for Kenneth Kellum

Sponsored by Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home Bloomington Chapel.

5 Entries

Hidefumi Katsuura

December 24, 2023

Early December we received a Christmas card from Ken and Sara. Ken wrote that he and Sara had visited the Redlin Art Center in Watertown, South Dakota last summer and said that it was a "cool place". When I learned that he had passed several days later, it was just a total shock and hard to believe.

When I arrived in the summer of 1984 at San Jose to begin my teaching career, Ken allowed us to stay at his house for about a month while they were traveling. That allowed us to look for a place to live and make San Jose our home. The Kellums went out their way to help us to settle in. Their generosity or maybe Ken´s southern charm continued on while we were colleagues.

Just out of graduate school in May, 1984, Ken was very helpful especially since I came to SJSU with no publications. I was nervous to leave my advisor and did not have all the confidence needed to start an academic career. Ken worked with me showing me the ropes. Not long after, Ken shared a math problem with me, and I was able to contribute to the problem. That was my first published paper and Ken was the co-author. He set me on a track to be a research mathematician. In a way, he gave me a post graduate school training. Ken and I ended up having different interests in Mathematics, but his works were always very inspiring. He was an incredible mathematician. It was a great honor to know him as a colleague and as a friend. I will miss him dearly.
Sincerely
Hidefumi Katsuura

Debra Wilson

December 22, 2023

I only knew Kenneth through working with his wife, Sara at The Garlic Press. I envy his skills in math! Wow a great career he had. My deepest sympathy to Sara and all of Kenneth's family. I know he will be truly missed. May God bless him and all of his family.

Rick Kubelka

December 21, 2023

I used to say to Ken that there were two kinds of topologists: beer topologists and wine topologists. Point-set topologists and continuum theorists, like him & Hidefumi, had their meetings in places like Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, & Tallahassee, and would roll out a keg of beer in the breaks between talks. Algebraic topologists, like Marilyn & me, went to meetings in places like Evanston, Cambridge, & Palo Alto, and would bring out a nice chardonnay during our breaks.

Farewell, beer topologist extraordinaire!

Mary Helen Haskell

December 21, 2023

Sara - my sympathy. May his memory be a blessing.

Meg Mason

December 21, 2023

Jeff and I are saddened to hear of Uncle Ken´s death. Please know we are thinking of you and his daughters during this difficult time and hope you find comfort in knowing he touched so many lives; people AND animals. Many hugs. Meg and Jeff Mason

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