Thomas L. Kelly

1922 - 2011

Thomas L. Kelly

Thomas L. Kelly passed away at his home in LaQuinta, California on April 26th, 2011. He was born January 26, 1922 in Madison, Wisconsin to Thomas and Katherine Kelly. He spent most of his early years in Rockford, Illinois and graduated from high school in Beloit, Wisconsin. He attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where he was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. Mr. Kelly enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and was sent to Midshipmen's School at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He was assigned to the Amphibious Forces in the South Pacific. He served aboard the LST (Landing Ship, Tank) 487 as a Communications Officer and Executive Officer and was the Commander of LST 953. Mr. Kelly participated in four invasions: Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana's Group, Ulithe and Peleliu in the Palau Group, the Phillipine Liberation at Lingayen Gulf, and the Okinawa Operation. His naval groups were awarded four battle stars. He was honorably discharged in 1945. Following his discharge, he resumed his education and graduated from DePauw University in 1946. He was employed by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors for ten years in their Des Moines, Iowa office where he held junior executive positions in the sales division. In Des Moines he was a member of Wakonda Country Club. Moving to Fort Dodge, Iowa he was President of Tom Kelly Ford-Lincoln Mercury for twenty-eight years. He was also President of The Fort Dodge Country Club, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Trinity Regional Hospital, President of Hawkeye Life Insurance company of Des Moines, Treasurer of the Iowa Auto Dealer's Association, member of the Rotary Club, Elks Club, American Legion and VFW. In 1988, Mr. Kelly and his family moved to California and became members of PGA West in LaQuinta. Mr. Kelly was a member of the Westerner's golf group there for many years. He was co-founder of Torre Nissan in Indio, California. He is survived by his wife, Karen and two daughters, Kara Kelly Thompson of Shoreline, Washington, and Dana Kelly of LaQuinta. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Darcy Baird in 2002 and his sister Monica Guthier of Tampa, Florida in 2005. Private burial.

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